Carl~
Thanks for the kind words.
Funny you should mention floatation. Of course, the white cedar hull will float awash and level if the Ted Sanford is ever full of water. However, my Dad always kept a piece of closed-cell foam up forward in the bow. Actually, it was a ~7" x 30" cylinder made for water rescue. I will either put an inflatable bag (as for canoes or kayaks) or a fitted wedge of closed-cell foam - just to account for the heavier-than-water gun, ammo, anchors. The wedge would be removable so I could maintain good air-flow off-season. Because the stool rack stows in the aft compartment, though, I cannot easily put one there too.
All the best,
SJS