How to Make a Hatch Cover for a Kayak

Sea and touring kayaks use isolated storage compartments for dry storage and to provide buoyancy to the boat. In order to protect the storage hatches, a kayak needs hatch covers to keep the majority of water out. Hatch covers provide a barrier against water and should be removable quickly and efficiently. No hatch cover provides 100 percent waterproofing, but with the right seal, it does repel the majority of splashes and seepage into the storage areas.

Things You'll Need

  • Hard plastic sheet -- available at hardware stores
  • Shop scissors
  • Marker
  • File
  • Neoprene fabric
  • Sewing machine
  • Bulk bungee cord
  • Plastic quick clip
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the sheet of plastic over the open kayak hatch. Trace the hatch shape onto the plastic using a marker. Cut out the hatch shape from the hard plastic sheet using a pair of shop scissors (a stout pair of scissors similar to tin snips). File down the edges of the cut out hatch shape.

    • 2

      Set the cutout on the neoprene fabric and draw the shape around the hatch, two inches wider in diameter than the cutout. Cut out the fabric.

    • 3

      Cut out a piece of bungee cord the same length as the circumference of the neoprene plus 12 inches. Measure around the edge of the neoprene hatch cover and add the extra length; for example, if the circumference is 24 inches, add 12 for a total length of 36 inches.

    • 4

      Place the bungee around the edge of the neoprene cutout and fold the lip up and over to make a sleeve of bungee going around the edge of the neoprene. Sew this in place so the bungee is in the sleeve, leaving the extra length hanging out on each end by six inches.

    • 5

      Thread the two ends of the bungee through the cord slot on the quick clip.

    • 6

      Place the plastic hatch cover on the kayak hatch and then cover it with the neoprene, making sure the neoprene goes over the combing on the hatch. Pull the ends tight to snug and secure the plastic onto the hatch. Pull the bungee out and clip the quick clip to a deck bungee to keep the hatch dry and secure.