: Hey Kelly

: It certainly would be a great way aeshetically. Functionally a prob if wanted
: to get easy access to the hatch. And since the hatch is a possible weak
: point, it might not be the best idea. But I quite like the idea, and so
: you are the innovator and this is only technical details. you know -
: engineering (yech)

: But if you made the hatch structural, maybe that would work best. So you make
: a stronger than usual flange, from below inset say 8 stainless tnuts(in
: the middle of the gasket or at least to the outside) - more to the edges
: than to the centre, and thru bolt that rigid strong 'hatch' cover that has
: the beams embedded. For the regular hatch, if the nuts are blind and
: outside or thru the gasket region, just use any other usual method(the
: bolts are too slow for this) to attach the regular hatch.

: Anyway, very cool idea.

: -mick

Kelly,

I think your idea is quite cool. Heres a few other thoughts.

Say you made a kidyak as well as yr fullsize yak. Beam over from your rear hatch to blind inset nuts in the kidyak coaming. Now have an outrigger sailyak. Or say one (like me) made a large model first. Now have a potential real use for it. Maybe float it on its side for more skegway.

Or say you were on a long trip w/ another person. And there was some injury potential. Having a clamping system for say strong breakapart paddles going from (well secured!!-screwed down) hatch to hatch might be a very interesting safety factor to secure the 2 yaks together but w/ some paddle room.

Or hoisting a sail w/ the two tied yaks may get quite a bit of area up.

OR OR OR say you made a slightly wide sitontop waveski. Say you split it VERTICALLY right down the centrline. Going down the centre join and concealed is a shaped mast w/ foil. When you hit wind, you turn sideways in your seat, push out sideways w/ your legs therebye splitting the yak in 2 longitudinally to about leg length (on the inside) say abt 40in oto(plus or minus), hoist the sail and whip off. Lets call it a 'windski'. patent pending

-mick