Mark:
The lowest "handle" in Lance's excellent photo actually is a latch that holds the lower hatch open. On the Silversides, and I imagine other boats, there is a cable with knobs that attaches to the eyehole on the left side of that latch. Basically, you pull on the cable, it releases the latch and you can pull the hatch shut so someone else can dog it with those two handles.
Hope this helps.
Fred