My 2 cents: Even if you're just going to putz around, I'll bet you're going to want to carry something. I think decks (deck bags) are a bad place to carry much. It clutters things, and raises the center of gravity. I like to carry fabric ice chest, a fleece jacket, even a chair and a book, for when I can find a secluded spot to go ashore and relax/read/nap. I love the fact that I can store all of that stuff below deck. I know there are minimalists out there who think I'm odd (there are plenty of non-minimalists who think so too.) If you are worried about not having enough floatation in your compartments due to leaky hatches, you can alway carry some float bags.

It would be easy to find out. Try the boat a few times. Putz away. See if there are things you want to carry that need to go below. If so, cut hatches. If not, you're good.

One other thing to think about (and more experienced boaters might want to weigh in here.) When my hatches are on tight and the boat heats up in the sunlight, the air pressure builds up significantly, and air spills out. Then, when the boat and the air cool, the hatches are sucked down and can be quite difficult to get off. People often drill a tiny "air pressure relief hole" (I made that term up) near the top of their bulkheads. It allows the air pressure in the compartments to equalize, but only allows a tiny bit of water to leak in, and only when the boat is inverted.

With no way for the air inside your boat to get in and out, the pressure could conceivably build up enough to damage the boat (split a seam?) Couldn't it? Someone will surely know if this is a legitimate concern.

: Hi all,

: I inherited a 95% completed cedar strip kayak from a disappointed builder.
: The fellow had done a superb building job of a 16ft. Chinook kayak (design
: reviewed by Canoe & Kayak Magazine.) He took it out for a spin and
: found it too unstable for his liking – so much so he gave it away. It is
: complete with the exception of foot braces, a seat and hatch openings. The
: braces and seat are easy enough to deal with. The boat has 2 plywood
: bulkheads with no access ports. My question is, “Should I do something
: about the hatch openings?” The thread on Cleopatra’s Needle got me to
: thinking… I have no plans for tripping in it, just putzing around local
: bays etc.