: My first attempt with a hold down system for my hatches did not work well so
: I'm looking for another alternative. In the archive I've found internal
: bungee, internal pulley and the old stand-by external straps /bungee. Are
: there and any other worthwhile alt for a secure hatch hold down. I'm
: trying to avoid adding something that will detract for the strip pattern
: in the boat while still being secure and relatively easy to access.

Another idea it use a knob like Dean's, inset it w 2 opposing holes so you can turn it, and under it (below the hatch) put in say a 4 pronged star nut(make out of 1/2in ply). (could be any no. of prongs) Attach 1/8 in ss rods to holes inthe prongs and make them so they are flush w/ the o/s of the hatch. Drill holes sideways into the hull in line w/ the rods. Conceptually its like a radial engine w/ the star the crank, the pins the rods/pistons, and the sideways hole in the hull the cylinders. The hatch needs to be 2 layers thick at the outside to allow the rods to go thru. (Personally, I think Iwould just make a 1/4 thick silicone gasket over top of the greased rods and see how it worked out and add wd on the i/s later. I'm assume the gasket on the hatch side) You could put a few springs(ss) on the rods and make it positively latch. And as many pins (big radial engine) as yr little hrt desires. Since the pins don't rotate, you could even chamfer them a bit to give down ward pressure.

might work

-mick