: If this is the same kayak mentioned in the CLC forum it sounds a little like
: a Cape Charles where two strips of wood were used underneath the deck for
: the hatches,,and you're right, it's inadequate. Put reinforcement on all
: sides of the hole and on the aft hatch put another transverse strip along
: the forward edge of the hatch. If the person who glued them in only used
: clamps at the hatch hole then there was nothing clamping the strip to the
: deck near the sheer and there's probably air gaps. I was able to rip out
: strips like that on a couple original CLC kayaks because they weren't
: clamped beyond the hole.

Thanks Lee, yes it is the same as mentioned over at the CLC. I tried posting a picture in my response on this forum and it seems to be stuck in cyberspace. (Said it will be posted after a moderator check the message. That was last week, nothing yet. So I posted over there. Don't know why I have such issues with pictures.) Anyway, the reinforcement at the hatches is even more pathetic that two strips. He put strips all around the opening, but only as big as the opening. None of the transverse "supports" went to the sheer. I'd try to post a photo, but with my luck, this response would never show.
I may have some baltic birch that I may try to use. That stuff has very few voids. I will also look into the all glass option at oneoceankayaks.
Thanks for all the help.