> Three of us built Cape Charles Kayaks and we've built hatches three
> different ways. I built mine by building up an inner coaming around the
> opening 3/8 high and matching an outer coaming 3/8 thick on the plywood
> hatch. Three nylon straps hold the hatches down very tightly and they are
> very water proof. The problem with them is that they stick up and ruin the
> line of the boat and they were very time consumming to make. The second
> guy made his hatches as described in the CLC directions. The problem with
> them is as laid out in the plans they are way to small for loading gear.
> The third boat we cut flush hatches that look very sleek and have the
> advantage of using the part of the deck that you cut out. The other two
> methods require throwing away that piece and using another piece of
> plywood. The flush hatches very easy to make just mark out the shape and
> carefully cut with a saber saw. We then glued in 4 mm strips of plywood
> under the edge of the hole to hold the hatch and cut small curved beams to
> bend the hatch to the shape of the deck. To hold down the hatches we used
> plastic Zeus 1/4 turn connectors. These really hold the hatches down flush
> and are easy to install. The only disadvantage to this type of hatch is I
> don't think it will be to waterproof but that's what dry bags are for.

J.P. : Great comparison! Can you spec a source for the plastic Zeus (Dzus, I have seen in aircraft applications) fittings? Though I am enamored of some really cool Push-Push latchs for home cabinets, which pop open with a slight push, I'm afraid of a wave, or some unknown twisting stress on the deck popping my hatches open inadvertantly. Your solution #3 is a very solid compromise. Depending on the type of plastic, there may be a possibility of coloring them. For water-proofing them, I considered attaching a small cap inside, which would of course catch water, but a small maintenace chore at the end of each boating day would be to dry them out. Not too much to ask for the effect they create. Not unlike cleaning a firearm at days end, or some the other chores we perform as a matter of fact. TNX, Scotty