you could also just go with a marginally thicker and taller crossflow and change out the latch to somthing akin to a trunk latch from a modern car and keep it in the center (remember to do a safety catch) it would require reengineering the bracing infront.. but it could be done nicely. with some stainless rod.ball ends and tubing...
or you could have two latches on either side of the ICand delete the center latch bracing all together... these could work
http://images.google.dk/imgres?imgur...%3Dda%26sa%3DN