: Well, apparently we have dramatically different definitions of
: "simple". To me, popping a rubber hatch over a plastic ring is
: simple. Magnetic hatch closures are simple. Deckplates are simple. No
: moving parts, no rigging, no straps...I'm sure you get my drift. I guess
: what I'm refering to are "elegant" solutions. I agree that your
: suggestions would be improvements, but nothing will make this setup
: simple.

(gotta like being dramatic, and so simply too.hehe.) but yr right no moving parts, rigging or straps is by far simplest. But I haven’t seen a simple one like this I would use. Rubber one needs a band anyway and is external and ugly, so nfg. Magnet’d be ok if could spin the magnets as well as attract to make some form of positive latch, but even that would be prone to hangup, so nfg – maybe some scope. Deckplate is simple but also simply ugly and probably pretty touchy to setup if anywhere near the size of a typical hatch opening, so nfg.

: What surprises me is that I have yet to see a hatch that uses a hinge on one
: side and a locking catch on the other. I mean really, how basic is that? A
: simple door into your boat, right?

Maybe one of the reasons is that a (fixed) hinge can be easily levered by the hatch to break causing a big problem for the rest of the paddle. Like how many times have we(well me any way needs an excuse) stumbled around in drunken stupors and tripped and fallen over the yak sometimes or even when just tired.

But if a flexible hinge is allowed here, just look again at the first picture and imagine a 90deg turn and that the side where the hatch is straightest and longest used tight or tighter lines and that the other side used ross’s hook method. there it is, hinge and latch. Just slight diff configuration of lines and how much slack is allowed. At its most simple could even maybe allow very very tight fixed bungee on this one side for a spring hinge. say even a bunch of fixings.

Actually, I think one of the main benefits of a hatch configuration like this(ie one in which the attachmt pts are near the perimeter of the hatch – say even closer and higher that what’s shown) is that the hatch itself starts becoming part of the deck structure in both tension and in some compression modes at the edge unlike any(?) other attachment setup other than say a laced external or a piano hinged external or internal approach.

For a comparison of setup to those using no hatches or b/heads but pull their gearbags into yak w/ loops or line ending near cockpit anyway. It’s the same line setup as here but for a b/h yak w/ lids. One extra line/loop for redundancy maybe.

anyway some ideas on this approach.