: I'm creeping along on my Spring Run kit build. Almost up to the
: keel on the hull stripping. Anyway, been thinking of hatches,
: etc for the deck.
: While storage space would be nice, I'm starting to think that maybe
: for my first build I avoid hatches all together. I make the yak
: with no hatchstoreage at all.
: Keep it simple!

: Almost all the yaks I've been seeing have hatches. Am I
: over-concerned with installing hatches?

Rob-
If you want to read some arguments for the 'no bulkheads, no hatches' approach, go on over to
http://www.marinerkayaks.com/
and read the 'Manuals' (owners, flotation, etc).

You definitely need to put flotation in the ends of the boat, and it is possible to pack gear into the boat through the cockpit. You can make large dry bags that fit the ends of your boat, with inflation tubes to 'top up' with air.
Some issues to consider would be the ease of getting at gear quickly, and the incessant harangues you will receive from instructors (and 'instructor wannabes') about your 'unsafe boat' (even if you have great deck lines and flotation bags, and they're paddling boats with loose hatch covers.....).

That said, I've done some hatch and bulkhead retrofitting on my boats, and it is MUCH easier to do some of the hatch work (if you are making hatch recesses) before you join the hull and deck. So I'd recommend hatches and bulkheads now, if you are building a 'general purpose' kayak.
Next topic: commercial hatch rims and covers in recesses vs wood-style flush covers......
;-)