the beckson "screw type" are a pain in the butt, the chain to hold it to the boat has broken on all that we have used, the heat makes the plastic warp and it easily cross-threads making it difficult to remove and replace, and O-ring or not, they leak, wouldn't recommend putting them on anything, the VCP hatches are easy to open and easy to close, leaks a little but not bad, is there a hatch that doesn't leak? like the idea of the internal bunjies for holding the hatch in place. later, rmd
: This is the Viking 6" access hatch; actual opening is 5.25". It was
: about $25 at Pacific Water Sports in Tacoma. Included is a detachable
: nylon (coated?) bag that is about 12" diameter at the bottom, which
: does reach to the bottom of the boat. I cut a circular piece of .5"
: foam to fit that to help keep the bag "open".

: During construction, I knew I'd be installing this as well as a rear deck
: hatch, so I simply 'glassed (6 oz.) the underside of the deck for about 3'
: aft of the cockpit. The cutout nipped about a 1" x 3" arc out of
: the rear cockpit reinforcement piece, but with the bulkhead right there
: and the extra 'glass, it seems to withstand my flopping around on the deck
: so far. The low profile doesn't snag or interfere, either.

: Using the lid without the bag, have your wife sit in the boat and experiment
: with final placement. You can hold the rim while she reaches behind and
: tries to unscrew and replace the lid. This may take some practice, even
: with the boat sitting on the nice, stable lawn. And it's even trickier out
: on the water.

: Since the deck panels on the Coho are flat, installation is pretty
: straightforward. Once you have the location, cut the proper-sized hole
: just like a hatch. I made up a rubber gasket to fit between the mounting
: plate and the deck. The mounting screws were either #12 or #14 x .75"
: long stainless oval- or panheads. After initial mounting, I removed each
: screw and ground off the excess length. Epoxy seal the big cutout and the
: screw holes, and reinstall everything.

: Rig a tether to the lid!

: I like it. My first iteration was a similar screwtop-and-bag that I installed
: in my nylon fabric sprayskirt, but that wouldn't be waterproof in a wet
: exit. I can't remember when, but some time ago there was a
: letter-to-the-editor in Sea Kayaker denouncing the deck-mounted day hatch.
: I think it was a warning that while the hatch is open, you have a hole in
: your boat.