> Thanks for your input, but that is not what I am looking for. If I
> understand your description correctly your bungies are inside the
> compartment and pull down on the hatch.

> These bungies I am refering to are for holding maps and stuff.

> What I am looking for is a way to stretch a bungie through a hole and knot
> it under the deck. I have heard that if the hole is small enough the
> relaxed bungie will expand enough to seal the hole.

> Anyone have any ideas about this? Thanks.

CHad, Your description is exactly what I did. The Pygmy plans call for 3 straps with buckles to hold down the hatch. I wanted to try something different. I drilled the holes where the straps were to go in case the bungie thing did not work out. I drilled the holes a little over sized and put tape under the deck. I filled the holes with epoxy and after cure I drilled the holes again but with a smaller bit than the original hole and much smaller than the fully expanded bungie. With one end of a piece of bungie held in a vise I stretched the cord to its max (least diameter) and then wrapped filiment strapping tape around the bungie very tightly, Relaxed the cord and where the tape is the diameter is much smaller. I then cut the the tape in the middle and had 2 halves with ends that I could push through the holes. I pulled them with pliers and knoted under the deck.

The layout I used was three holes on each side of hatch. With the bungie pushed through the outer holes forming a loop that is pulled accross the hatch and loops around a J shaped thingie that is attached to the middle hole.

I have been very satisfied with this arrangement and would recommend it to anyone. The hatch does not leak, nor does the bungie. It is simple, cheap and looks good. I only used this method for hatch hold downs as I had already installed pad eyes for other rigging.

If you have the time, several people here have described flush deck fitting that look even better. I'am going to try them on my next boat.

Larry C.