A typical arrangement has one bulkhead behind the seat and one beyond your feet. These compartments create air pockets that can be used to store gear and can be accessed by the hatches on top of the boat. Some manufacturers make these areas watertight with waterproof hatch covers and sealed bulkheads, but this is not always the case. If your compartments are not waterproof, you'll have to put everything you carry in dry bags. If your boat has no bulkheads, you can use air bags, which, when inflated, will keep most of the water out after a capsize.
Air bags are cheaper but bulkheads are more convenient.
Deck Lines Deck lines are ropes around the perimeter of the top decks that are used during rescues for grabbing and moving the boat. Without them, your boat is just a slippery, wet banana. Grab Loops Grab loops are found at either end of the boat and are normally used to lift the boat on land, but they are most important when swimming the boat to shore after a capsize. Your grab loop should have a toggle, usually a two-inch piece of plastic tied to the loop that allows the boat to spin without trapping your fingers, and a rope long enough to extend beyond the bow. Article copyright Menasha Ridge Press .