: Before I varnish and regret not having any deck lines and have to install
: them later and sanding off the varnish, what other uses am I overlooking
: the need for these deck lines for day use? Water reentry? Map holding?
: Paddle rests?

Dave,
Just went back and looked at your heron - you're right, it'd be a shame to cover it up. Just the same, I always seem to find a use for a deck bungie or two. I like having a water bottle handy, it's nice to have a paddle rest for fussing with the spray skirt, etc. I often come back with someone else's trash snapped under a bungie. So, they're handy. Don't know if I've seen your whole deck - maybe some room behind the cockpit??

If you decide on a retrofit, you might try this way. Couple of holes drilled smaller than the line (but just bigger than its dia. fully stretched) can do the trick. A little epoxy to seal the wood and it's done. Daresay you wouldn't need to mess up the varnish. Not as flashy as a lot of the carved or recessed wonders these folks come up with (damn, I wish I had those skills, patience, tools, magic, whatever), but it's no-snag and visually 'clean'.