: . . . My question is: Has anyone had any experience with SINGLE sea
: kayaks with a larger hatch to accommodate a small child? I don't want a
: double as I think it would be too cumbersome when I go out alone, but want
: the option for my wife and I to take the kids along with us if we want.

Follow the link below and you'll come to a previous (2 years ago) post on the launching of a boat by Paul Stomski, which contains some unique design ideas that you may wish to consider. Stomski's launch report has links to an extensive photo collection, which was active when I just checked it.

stomski is not a little guy. He originally wanted a sit-on-top kayak, and ended up modifying a conventional kayak by making major changes in the deck, cockpit and the seat. In front and in back of the main cockpit are smaller cockpits which do not have coamings. Instead, they are built like very large hatches. When not being used as cockpits, forward and aft compartments are completly covered, leaving a single with a large open cockpit for the paddler.

The design sprang from an idea about making two (or more) decks for a single hull. Instead of making two complete decks, though, large cutouts were made, and these cutouts filled in with various openings (coaming, hatch, etc) which could be used interchangably as needed. The idea is similar to having an add-on hard top for an otherwise canvas top Jeep.

Stomski's boat is rather large, but there is no reason why similar ideas could not be incorporated into smaller boats. Imagine a deck with a 7 foot long rectangular cutout for the cockpit. You now have a large single opening for fishing, carrying the dog, or a kid or two. Re arrange the seat location a bit and you can carry two adults. Because of the large open cockpit you would probably use this on calm days.

now, fill in this opening with woodstrips, that are glued to each other, but not to the boat. When the glue dries you can lift out an entire panel which you can fiberglass separately. You can do this process several times. These panels can then be cut to give you a single or double cockpit opening wna coaming which you can attach a sprayskirt to when paddling in rougher conditions. You can make a single with one cockpit opening, or a double with two. or make both! The length of the hull and the width are chosen to suit displacement, or the load carrying capacity that you require. (bigger paddlers, bigger boat)

Hope this helps.

PGJ

Hope this helps.