Hi Lee

Sorry about the late response, spring break and I was out water-sliding with the kids for a few days at an out of town hotel.
The knobs that I used are about 1 1/2" dia and slightly less than 3/4" high, that sounds small but there is no fear of not being able to get a grip even with cold hands. I did not turn my own but used hardwood cabinet knobs. I trimmed off the flair at the bottom, drilled out the hole large enough to accept the threaded rod, epoxied the rod in place and drove a pin through the knob and the rod, I am using a thin teflon washer with a brass insert in the hatch for it to seal against. As you say the mechanical connection is top notch and it is easy to apply enough pressure to get a great seal.

I really like you idea of two closing mechanisms on either side of the centreline. Instead of knobs one could use stainless machine bolts but that would mean tethering a socket or allen key to your PFD (and in my case a spare in the sprayskirt pocket, and another stashed in the cockpit, just in case)you could keep things really low profile that way though.

When I finish the Grebe for the kids, I am going to do a Cormorant for my next boat, I am planning on building it with just enough volume for day trips and maybe the occasional ultralight overnighter. I will pick your and the others on this board about that when the time comes. I would seriously consider your two closure system with allen key type machine bolts for that.

Thanks for your ideas!

Ken

: Ken, I got a small teak block that was going to be used for a kayak with a
: flat aft deck but went for the swivel levers. Don't those knobs get hung
: up on tow lines or during rescues? I like the solid mechanical connection
: though,,I was thinking that having two smaller knobs that were tapered
: like truncated cones with finger holds so that they could be set off the
: centerline of the hatch would be cool. That way any sliding of kayaks
: across each other would miss the knobs and the deck would look a little
: clearer. How about a 2" diameter knob 3/4" high with scallops
: for fingers with a 1/16" nylon washer underneath so there was no
: means for a line or jacket to get caught?