> Nice boat! What do you use to secure your hatches? I would be interested
> in seeing how you have done it without using external straps. Hatch design
> seems to be one of the most frequently "customized" elements of
> home-built kayaks.

I will post some pictures soon. I can't do the cool detailed drawings like some of the other hatch-related posts; I'll have to fall back on the crutch of a digital camera.

Here's the idea: I epoxied 4 small maple blocks on the underside of the deck at the 4 'corners' of the hatch opening. Each block is set back about an inch or so from the opening and has a 1/4" slot running from the bottom edge (edge of the block pointing down) to the center of the block. I used two lengths of shockcord with knots on each end to run between the blocks (side-to-side). On the hatch lid, a couple inches in from the peak on each end, I put a lash hook (mounted on another maple block so that the 'hook' points up). To fasten, stretch the bungee up to the hook. The angle of the bungee up to the hook is greater than what you'd have if you used external bungee holddowns, so you can get good downward force to hold the cover. The cover is rigid enough that the lash hooks at the peak still holds down the outer edges.

NOTE: I've not rolled the boat yet (still have to learn), so I haven't verify the watertightness. However, from the indentations in the weatherstripping, it's very likely they'll be watertight.