I don't think you can wipe out hard enough to get the main hatch underwater (not in 30 knots of wind). The boats float really high when they are on their side--there's a good photo of Attack from Mars getting sideways in the 'Best Shots' album. Even the seatbacks don't get underwater. I've seen plenty of gnarly wipeouts and never worried that water would flood into the main hatch.

However, open front hatches can sink boats if they get driven underwater hard, so dogging the front hatch is better insurance against real trouble.

--brendan

:: Question:

:: What are the shorthanded Express 27's doing to seal
:: their main hatch in-case of a bad wipeout?
::
:: I put my boards in and close the hatch but but when
:: running a kite in 25-30 singlehanded I wonder what
:: others are doing?
::
:: Having a Tuttle rudder and pushing the boat with MH up
:: to 26 true in big waves it is a dream to sail. But I
:: know there will be days with more breeze and nights when
:: I am on pilot while attending something else and she
:: will go. So just looking at my options while she is in
:: my shop for the winter.
::
:: Thanks in advance for the input.