Like you I built my boat as a dayboat. In part because I couldn't call up the nerve to take a saw to my deck, and in part 'cause I didn't need them for storage I decided against hatches. I did want bulkheads to limit cockpit volume, but didn't want to completely close off the ends (maintenance, drying out, maybe wanting some cargo cap. now and then). I solved my conundrum by putting hatches in the bulkheads. The rear one's an easy choice - it's almost as convenient as a deck hatch. Forward's a tougher call - it's a heck of a reach up there to work the hatch, let alone get anything in/out past the rim and footpegs. But since I don't plan to actively use the space, no big deal.

I used magnets for these hatches, mostly because it eliminated the need to work any mechanism way up in the cockpit. Since these hatches didn't need to be flush, I surface mounted the magnets on hatch and bulkhead/rim. Built out of 1/4" ply, the whole job took an hour or two, plus time for the epoxy coating to cure.

Just an alternative to consider.