There is no tether for them. I was planning on placing them in the kayak when not in use, though a couple spares onboard would be prudent. The thumbscrews are stainless, and will hopefully resist corroding significantly. If not, I plan on switching to a similar fastener made of a hard thermoplastic material. Only experience in the water will answer the questions about binding due to sand, and discomfort during re-entry, so I will post again when she's finished.

--Derek

: It looks like you remove the screws completely to open the hatch. Do you have
: a way to tether the screws so they don't get lost on the beach? Or do you
: just plan to carry a bag of spares?

: Do you anticipate problems with jamming if the screws corrode, get dried salt
: on them, or fine sand works into the threads?

: With those problems addressed it looks like a nice system. I might put some
: thicker plastic or wood covers over the heads, or build up some tool dip
: on them, to make them a little less uncomfortable when you or another boat
: encounters them during a rescue.

: Val