I USED THE LATCHES OFF OF OLD SKI BOOTS (found them at the dump, actually) ATTATCHED THE LATCH TO A SHORT PIECE OF NYLON WEBBING ON ONE SIDE OF THE BOAT AND THE CABLE BAIL TO A PEICE OF WEBBING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BOAT. I USED TWO PER HATCH AND THEY ARE QUITE STRONG AND VERY POSITIVE IN LOCKING. YOU STILL NEED THE HALF PIECES OF DOWLING GLUED TO THE HATCHES TO GET POSITIVE PRESSURE ON THE HATCH RIM FOR A GOOD SEAL. THE DOWNSIDE IS THAT YOU CAN GET ENOUGH TORQUE WITH THEM TO RIP OUT THE SCREWS HOLDING THE WEBBING, SO I REPLACED THEM WITH SMALL BOLTS. ALSO, SLIPED STRONG RUBBER O-RINGS OVER THE ENDS OF THE LATCHES WHEN THEY ARE SNAPPED DOWN IN LOCK POSITION SO THAT THEY CAN'T BE RELEASED IF YOU HIT THEM DURRING A RE-ENTRY. THE LATCHES NEED TO BE PLACED SO THAT THEY ARE AT THE CENTRE OF THE KAYAK DECK OR THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TRAVEL TO LOCK. THEY TEND TO SCRATCH THE DECK A BIT SO I ALSO GLUED SMALL PIECES OF THIN TEFLON TO THE DECK WHERE THEY SIT WHEN LATCHED. HOPE THIS ISN'T AS CONFUSING AS IT SEEMS TO BE TO ME AS I RE-READ IT: REGARDS FROM THE FROZEN NORTH COUNTRY: TOM

: Nice timing on the Pygmy hatch subject. I have been wrestling with that one
: as well. I like Larry's suggestion, although I would just as soon avoid
: hooks on deck.

: I have been toying around with the idea of a hybrid "internal
: bungie" system where I would add a variation of Pete Rozyk's internal
: block and tackle to adjust or release tension on the internal bungies from
: the cockpit. If I come up with something I like, I will let you know.

: Ted