This sounds very much like an automotive hood latch. How about 2 hood latch levers located in the cockpit (one each for front and rear hatches). Plastic latch handles are easy to come by, and a plastic (non-automotive) latch mechanism shouldn't be too hard to come by. I like this idea!

Jeff

: I am contamplating another design. Imagine the door latch. The retractable
: latch will be mounted on both sides under the deck (onto deck suport, of
: course) and the strike plate will be mounted on the underside of the hatch
: cover. To seal the hatch, I'll push down on both end directly over the
: latch. To open the hatch, I'll pull a cable which will retrack both
: latches. The latch may be modified in any form -- may even be spring
: loaded D shaped plastic or brass. I'm just thinking. No solid design yet.
: Anyone want to joint in?