You could cut access holes in the bulkheads and therefore avoid the need to cut hatches. Plus, for extra function, you could purchase cheap plastic screw tight hatches that would work perfectly on your bulkheads - a couple of 10" hatches in the bulkheads would let you properly finish the bulkhead plus give you water tight storage compartments (admittedly the front storage would be difficult to access) It would be a real challenge to finish the front bulkhead in this manner - you'd have to crawl inside your cockpit head first.

Good luck

Mark

> I am about to put the finishing touches on my Pygmy Osprey Std.
> I am now deciding whether or not to put hatches and bulkheads in.
> I know that I want bulkheads but I am not so sure if I like the idea
> of cutting two big holes in my new boat for hatches. Only problem
> is you can't put the bulkheads in without installing hatches (big
> holes!). Or can you?? What do all yall think about sacrificing watertightness
> and a nice open smooth deck for a couple of lousy hatches. BTW I don't
> think that I will really need the hatches for any practical purpose.
> Please advise Patrick Davis