I've been fussing with these little gizmos lately. I'm not really sure how I got hooked on them but... The little hatch on the right is a redo. The previous design was tied directly into the handle/knob. See http://www.nwlink.com/~chips/cedarstrip/images/hatches3.jpg It worked okay but the catch tended to pull the handle/knob down to one side when it was closed. This version is more like a real door knob; the center core is independent. Any load on the catch is transferred to the case not the handle. I also coated some of the parts with graphite. I'm pretty sure this one is going to work out.

The circular one is something I dreamed up as a deck plate. This is a plywood dummy but it matches a circular opening in my forward bulkhead. There's a recessed 3" knob on the other side that ties directly into that center triangle. It's independent of the circular lock cylinder. The little pieces around the cylinder will act as stops and will also support the outside of the "case". The outside of the case is the circular piece on the left. The cylinder will hopefully move 3 catches in and out. It's going pretty well but nothing has been proven. This one is cool because there is a slot under the center triangle that keeps the knob from turning unless you push it in.

- Chip
http://www.nwlink.com/~chips