> the plastic I'm thinking of is the same as for the 'tupperware whitewater
> etc' boats out there - I think it's called linear polyethelyene though
> I've read about x-linked. I agree that plexi or ordinary plastics would be
> junk.

Check your yellow pages for your friendly local plastics manufacturer--they oughta sell sheets of linear, and probably ABS ("Royalex") too.

> Rather than lay up glass (stiff??)

A single layer with the weave filled (pores at least filled) is pretty flexible, and certainly flexible to not have to worry about stress risers. I think I'm sold on Greg's idea of the "cup"-shaped piece of glass laid up over foam over the bulkhead. I guess it's because I know how to glass, I know how to make it work and look good, and I won't have to worry about not knowing how to adequately shape the plastic and glue it with urethane, and still be able to trust it in the middle of a 5-mile crossing.

Shawn