> I am less worried that I am going to lose a hatch because of wind,
> especially at highway speeds.

Wow, what a beautiful boat. Makes me feel a little silly worrying about my one piece, non-hatched CLC North Bay deck!

But speaking as a kayaker and not much of a woodworker, don't you guys tether your deck hatchs? As one who's paddled in a lot of different water conditions and transported boats half way across country and back, I'd never take my boat out without some sort of tethering system for my hatches --- either slidelock buckles and straps or some sort of perlon-type light line to make sure that, should the hatch come loose, it wouldn't be lost. Is this not a "wood boat" thing?

Jack Martin