: Instead of a rear day hatch, I'm trying to think of a way to build something
: like a glove box that would be right in front of the cockpit, and
: accessible without removing the sprayskirt. It would also descend below
: the deck, something like an elliptical 'knee tube'.

: If I modify a few stations in front of the cockpit to have an elliptical
: arch, it seems like after stripping I could end up with a cowling-like
: swoop, that when viewed from the cockpit would be like an eyebrow window.
: One would cover the face of this window with plywood or wood strips, then
: cut out a small hatch or add a small 'tupperware' rubber hatch. Inside
: (below), the idea would be to design a similar cowling-like shape out of
: insulation foam (but this would basically be inverted, end for end, such
: that the widest part would be closer to the feet, and then it gradually
: tapers to nothing right below the front of the cockpit. This would be
: covered with a few layers of fiberglass that attach to the inside of the
: deck---then later pull the styrofoam & contact paper out in chunks..
: This structure could easily hold as much as my current deckbag, but would
: be a much more elegant solution to carrying all the small stuff one needs
: to get to frequently.

: I'm not sure if it would look goofy, or cool!! Maybe, from the side, it would
: look like some of those skin-on-frame boats that swoop up in front of the
: cockpit??

: Has anyone tried this? Any suggestions?

basically no reason why not to do it.

1/in a recent issue of seakayaker, pete rosyck tells how to do something like that thru the front part of the skirt itself. if you had a few loose bungees to hold up the bag so it goes longitudinally down the yak, it would be similar to what you're talking about but without any building change.

2/if you build up, you may/will effect the aesthetic lines of yr yak as well as make it more difficult to lean forward, so why not shape/foam a knee tube below after the yak is finished, saran it, glass over, remove the foam and put in a flush small flush leidy hatch on top. link the bungees thru the glass bottom w/ holes and it'll stay water tight until(or just drill small hole if you don't care) you move the bungees and it takes up the large space between your legs just like any other knee tube. Maybe even put snap or cap access i/s cockpit too(2 for 1!). (Plan the size out as there could be a conflict if you put in largish thigh braces and you have a narrow keyhole in front).
3/ would be interesting also if just adhered some pvc fabric below w/ the flush hatch also.