Can you reach the ends of your boat through the hatches?  If so you could still do end pours, but I'd recommend a runny batch of epoxy, to ensure it fills the entire end (and tap it with a hammer from the outside to drive any air bubbles up/out).   A cup or so of semi-thickened epoxy should give you enough fill to drill through for the ropes.

Good luck,

Larry

I used the toggle handle in the bow with a small end pour. I used a lot of the glass micro balloons in the epoxy to make it lighter weight, then tilted the boat on end so I only had to do a small pour. It drilled out easy.

I used a padeye in the stern-I don't think it is too large. I had installed a scrap 3/4" piece of wood under the stern deck to attach my pad eye to.

Chris,

You can use a section of 1/2" pvc epoxied in place in a hole drilled through the bow.  Some have done this wood, but I don't find the little bit of plastic too objectionable.

Ross

I agree with you that the padeyes look too big. My solution was to use 1/4" fairleads, which I screwed through the deck with 1" ss screws, then secured with small (3-4oz.) end pours that favor the deck. You can see photos and a clearer description on my Shearwater Construction Notes site at http://twofootartist.com/shearwater-construction-notes/ -Wes

Thanks for all your replies, but i think i'm gonna go a different route. i have shaped a piece of oak about 1" tall x 3/4" thick x 6' long tapering back from the front with an arch in the bottom big enough to put the rope for the handle thru. i am gonna epoxy it on the front of the deck right at the bow. i'll get a pick up soon to show you guys how it looks.