GIS beach cruising mods

Hello. I have purchased the plans for the GIS and wish to build it as a row/sail beach cruiser. I appreciate what has been said about keeping the overall weight of construction down, but optimum race performance is not my primary goal. I have also read up on the issues around installing side seats aft and also the need for some water-weight in a boat recovered from a capsize. That being said, after viewing the various videos of the GIS being recovered from various dunkings, I feel there is too much water left in the boat for my liking given the areas I will be travelling in and too much work involved in removing it. I would like to tank over the whole front end of the boat from the mid seat forwards at seat level and make it hatch accessible for gear. The weight gain here would be small ( keeping in mind that my boat weight can vary considerably considering what assortment of camping gear I choose to bring). A tanked front end might affect the trim of a recovered boat if it results in a rear cockpit filled with water and a dry front end. I thought to deal with this using gunnel air bags located aft, yeilding a boat that floats higher and level on its side horizontally when tipped over. I am also impressed with the short (3-4 foot long) outriggers or amas such as those used by Solway Dory. I have used these on some of my sailing canoes with good success. (these are traditional Canadian tripping canoes, not like Beth, and the use of the amas was to aid in preventing capsize more than in recovering from it) Any thoughts on these adaptations to the GIS given my desire to use it for beach cruising? Any other mods that have been done? Thanks, Allan.