: I've just completed my Coho and I love the looks of it. I'd like to leave it
: without hatches. Any suggestion on Dry bags versus float bags?

I built a Coho also and couldn't bring myself to take a jig saw to the deck to put in hatches. There are some options other than dry bags or float bags. I did the following on my boat. Keep in mind that I do not intend to use my boat for extended cruising, so being able to pack the ends completely full of gear is not that important to me.

Bow- I built a bulkhead and put in a 6 inch plastic circular hatch. This hatch is not either the screw-in or pry-out varieties mentioned elsewhere, but has a tab that flips out and turns 90 degrees to lock the hatch in place. This hatch allows limited access to the bow, but for my needs it works fine. I did put a small eye strap in the bow with a continuous loop of cord through it before putting on the deck. This will allow me to pull things (smaller than 6 inches in diameter) in and out of the bow if necesary.

Stern- I built a casketed, removeable bulkheat behind the seat. This involved making a bukhead and cutting out the the inside, leaving onlly about a one inch wide strip. This was fiberglased to the hull, and a gasket glued to it. Another removeable bulkhead slightly smaller than the hull is held firmly to the gasketed ring shaped bulkhead with wing nuts. With the removeable portion taken off I have compltete access to the stern of the boat. It has proven to be watertight.

Ralph