The black foam was used years ago in Bells, b4 the modern vaccuum bag tanks....we had patterns and used a japanese pull saw for the rough cut and then shapped in the belt sander and glued in with contact cement-the creekrunner is 16 years old, totally abused, and I have only re-cement once....didn't really need too but I wanted to use up the little bit I had left. The souris is decent sized up front...for me anyway....what about knee pads for bucking those head winds...or could you cut wedges of black foam.. glue them in and cover with knee pads.....just and idea.