When in doubt, trust your designer. Nick has designed a lot of fine boats and knows what he is doing. -Wes

A large stern hatch can be useful for stowing things that won't fit through the small bow hatch opening. A take-apart kayak cart can be a handy thing to carry, and their wheels are normally 10-11" in diameter. Otherwise, I would look at what objects you might want to carry, and base your dimensions on that.

Grant

This is a very timely thread.

I am also at the point of cutting the hatch, but on my Auk 14. There doesn't seem to be any real specs for this. Any guidance on size or shape? I'm only doing a stern hatch.

TIA,

Dan 

Thanks for the info....I think I will make it slightly smaller...3/4 or 4/5 of the off-sets size....should I expect much, or any spring back in the hatch after it is cut out? When I read of somebody having that problem, it seems to be with the stitch & glue builds.

Duuane,

If you use a plywood stiffener there will be some spring back if you don't relieve it somehow. Cutting slits in theside that's glued to the underside of the hatch cover, for example.

I decided to use the aft hatch design from the book as well, but am also reducing the size to about 3/4

Dan