Re: [Paddlewise] hatch fasteners

In a message dated 1/2/2003 1:16:16 PM Central Standard Time, 
cholst_at_bitstream.net writes:


> A fellow in our kayak club made a stich-and-glue kayak 
> in
> which the hatch covers are held down by internal bungees.
> 
> I tested a prototype kayak with this rig and during a cowboy rescue, my 
> skirt
> caught the hatch and it is now in Davey Jones' Locker.  I recommended they
> use a different system, despite the good looks.
> 
> Brian Blankinship
> >>
> 
> I wouldn't expect this to happen if the hatch cover were flush with the 
> deck or a fairly strong pair of bungees were used. As I recall, the one I 
> looked at required a fairly strong pull to open the hatch far enough to to 
> unhook the bungee.
> 

I was present at a Deep Water Rescue practice and the act of a rescuee 
leveraging off the hatch cover made it open up by slipping one or two of the 
tension pegs and the hatch shipped a few gallons of water. The day before my 
wife saw the internal bungie system in use. A rescuee's hand pushed in the 
lid and the kayak recieved a few US gallons, enough to cause the kayak to 
pirouette. For these reasons I prefer the VCP or Kayak sport hatches. There 
may be ways to make a pretty boat have a complimentary hatch system with 
security in mind. The ones listed above didn't generate my confidence.

Happy New Year,

Rob G

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