Exodus,
Do you have any example pictures of the technique you describe, either from your hatch or another's? I ask, because this would be an unorthodox approach, at least compared to all other examples I have seen pictured on this forum, where hatches are finished with varnish and maintained by ritualistic applications of varnish from now to eternity.
Unorthodox, does not mean incorrect, just different. The techique you describe resembles that used by the builders of wood strip kayaks. I've thought about this technique myself, but it seems that some problems might arise when it comes to wrapping cloth around corners, even if using finely-woven Dynel.
Regards,
Roscoe
E25, #226