Folks,
For those like myself who have limited resources, experice, skills and tools, the hatch looks formidable (well, so do the doors) So, as I went to order my 5x5x1/2 for the floors, I was thinking about the hatch. Here is what I came up with.
Make the Hatch lid about 1/2-1 inch wider than the walls on each side. Have 'rails' attached to the hatch lid which come down OUTSIDE of the walls by 1-2 inches. Have the join between the hatch lid and the side wall filled with weather stripping etc so that water cannot get sucked back up and into the hatch.
Advantage is that the rain etc falls outside the walls of tha hatch and, if you make the 'rails' wide enough, the seal on the hatch would be nearly impossible for moisture to get into the hatch.
Aesthetically this is not elegant, though it need not be UGLY. Thoughts.
Bad consequences I have not thought about and should?
Jim