Astoriadave
Paddler
About that VHF in the hatch: Deep Trouble has a detailed description of what went wrong just off the east side of Orcas Island in the San Juans when three people, two newbies in a double, IIRC, and the guide solo when they missed the tide window and tried to fight their way upcurrent through some rough water off a major point. Naturally, the double went over. So did the guide, while he was scratching around inside the open rear hatch to get his VHF out to call in a Mayday. Nobody died, but the incident comvinced me the VHF was never gonna be hard to get to, easy conditions or hard. Why have it along if it will be difficult to get to, or expose a major bulkheaded compartment to flooding in rough conditions, which is when you will need to get to it? Day hatch, maybe, but not as good as on the PFD.