A pawl assembly is adapted for being mounted in an aperture formed in a door panel for releasably retaining the door against a corresponding frame. The pawl assembly includes as portions thereof a housing which is received within the door panel aperture. The housing is formed having its distal end being conical in shape which allows a mounting nut to be mounted onto the pawl assembly when received in the door panel aperture. A drive member is included which is received within an axial bore formed in the housing and is adapted for rotational movement by an operator. A pawl is secured to the drive member in only one orientation of the pawl in relation to the drive member. The drive member rotation is limited by a protruding member which extends from the housing and into the drive member. The drive member is also included with a flange which is sized at least to completely cover the top of housing which provides a seal for restricting the passage of water, dust and other matter. A biasing member is also included which provides a frictional resistance upon the drive member on its rotational movement and also operates as a detent for releasably retaining the pawl assembly in its fully unlatched and fully latched positions.