diff --git a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/AbstractCharSequenceUtf8DataAccess.java b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/AbstractCharSequenceUtf8DataAccess.java
index cea2023fa..d35938ef7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/AbstractCharSequenceUtf8DataAccess.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/AbstractCharSequenceUtf8DataAccess.java
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ import net.openhft.chronicle.wire.WireIn;
 import net.openhft.chronicle.wire.WireOut;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 
+import static net.openhft.chronicle.hash.serialization.impl.DefaultElasticBytes.DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY;
+
 abstract class AbstractCharSequenceUtf8DataAccess<T extends CharSequence> extends AbstractData<T>
         implements DataAccess<T>, Data<T> {
 
@@ -36,12 +38,12 @@ abstract class AbstractCharSequenceUtf8DataAccess<T extends CharSequence> extend
     /** State field */
     transient T cs;
 
-    AbstractCharSequenceUtf8DataAccess() {
-        initTransients();
+    AbstractCharSequenceUtf8DataAccess(long bytesCapacity) {
+        initTransients(bytesCapacity);
     }
 
-    private void initTransients() {
-        bytes = DefaultElasticBytes.allocateDefaultElasticBytes();
+    private void initTransients(long bytesCapacity) {
+        bytes = DefaultElasticBytes.allocateDefaultElasticBytes(bytesCapacity);
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -60,7 +62,7 @@ abstract class AbstractCharSequenceUtf8DataAccess<T extends CharSequence> extend
     @Override
     public void readMarshallable(@NotNull WireIn wireIn) {
         // no config fields to read
-        initTransients();
+        initTransients(DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY);
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/BytesMarshallableDataAccess.java b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/BytesMarshallableDataAccess.java
index 4aec10627..e9347c330 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/BytesMarshallableDataAccess.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/BytesMarshallableDataAccess.java
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ import net.openhft.chronicle.wire.WireIn;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
+import static net.openhft.chronicle.hash.serialization.impl.DefaultElasticBytes.DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY;
+
 public class BytesMarshallableDataAccess<T extends BytesMarshallable>
         extends InstanceCreatingMarshaller<T> implements DataAccess<T>, Data<T> {
 
@@ -36,18 +38,22 @@ public class BytesMarshallableDataAccess<T extends BytesMarshallable>
     private transient T instance;
 
     public BytesMarshallableDataAccess(Class<T> tClass) {
+        this(tClass, DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY);
+    }
+
+    private BytesMarshallableDataAccess(Class<T> tClass, long bytesCapacity) {
         super(tClass);
-        initTransients();
+        initTransients(bytesCapacity);
     }
 
     @Override
     public void readMarshallable(@NotNull WireIn wireIn) {
         super.readMarshallable(wireIn);
-        initTransients();
+        initTransients(DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY);
     }
 
-    private void initTransients() {
-        bytes = DefaultElasticBytes.allocateDefaultElasticBytes();
+    private void initTransients(long bytesCapacity) {
+        bytes = DefaultElasticBytes.allocateDefaultElasticBytes(bytesCapacity);
         targetBytes = VanillaBytes.vanillaBytes();
     }
 
@@ -133,6 +139,6 @@ public class BytesMarshallableDataAccess<T extends BytesMarshallable>
 
     @Override
     public DataAccess<T> copy() {
-        return new BytesMarshallableDataAccess<>(tClass());
+        return new BytesMarshallableDataAccess<>(tClass(), bytes.realCapacity());
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/CharSequenceSizedWriter.java b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/CharSequenceSizedWriter.java
index f0309e329..1cf042f1b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/CharSequenceSizedWriter.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/CharSequenceSizedWriter.java
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ import net.openhft.chronicle.hash.serialization.SizedWriter;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 
 /**
- * @deprecated use one of {@link AbstractCharSequenceUtf8DataAccess} subclasses instead
+ * @deprecated use one of {@link AbstractCharSequenceUtf8DataAccess} subclasses instead. This class
+ * is not removed, because users who created a chronicleMap with older version of the library with
+ * this class as the key or value writer should be able to read and access the map with the present
+ * version of the library.
  */
 @Deprecated
 @SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/CharSequenceUtf8DataAccess.java b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/CharSequenceUtf8DataAccess.java
index 9a1a8e86f..74f6da962 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/CharSequenceUtf8DataAccess.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/CharSequenceUtf8DataAccess.java
@@ -23,6 +23,14 @@ import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 public final class CharSequenceUtf8DataAccess
         extends AbstractCharSequenceUtf8DataAccess<CharSequence> {
 
+    public CharSequenceUtf8DataAccess() {
+        this(DefaultElasticBytes.DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY);
+    }
+
+    private CharSequenceUtf8DataAccess(long bytesCapacity) {
+        super(bytesCapacity);
+    }
+
     @Override
     public CharSequence getUsing(@Nullable CharSequence using) {
         StringBuilder sb;
@@ -38,6 +46,6 @@ public final class CharSequenceUtf8DataAccess
 
     @Override
     public DataAccess<CharSequence> copy() {
-        return new CharSequenceUtf8DataAccess();
+        return new CharSequenceUtf8DataAccess(bytes().realCapacity());
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/DefaultElasticBytes.java b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/DefaultElasticBytes.java
index c20fe3079..dc4e52684 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/DefaultElasticBytes.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/DefaultElasticBytes.java
@@ -21,8 +21,14 @@ import net.openhft.chronicle.bytes.Bytes;
 
 final class DefaultElasticBytes {
 
-    public static Bytes<?> allocateDefaultElasticBytes() {
-        return Bytes.elasticHeapByteBuffer(32);
+    static final int DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY = 32;
+
+    static Bytes<?> allocateDefaultElasticBytes(long bytesCapacity) {
+        if (bytesCapacity <= Bytes.MAX_BYTE_BUFFER_CAPACITY) {
+            return Bytes.elasticHeapByteBuffer((int) bytesCapacity);
+        } else {
+            return Bytes.allocateElasticDirect(bytesCapacity);
+        }
     }
 
     private DefaultElasticBytes() {}
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/ExternalBytesMarshallableDataAccess.java b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/ExternalBytesMarshallableDataAccess.java
index 508d8636b..4989277d0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/ExternalBytesMarshallableDataAccess.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/ExternalBytesMarshallableDataAccess.java
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
 import static net.openhft.chronicle.hash.serialization.StatefulCopyable.copyIfNeeded;
+import static net.openhft.chronicle.hash.serialization.impl.DefaultElasticBytes.DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY;
 
 public class ExternalBytesMarshallableDataAccess<T> extends InstanceCreatingMarshaller<T>
         implements DataAccess<T>, Data<T> {
@@ -45,14 +46,20 @@ public class ExternalBytesMarshallableDataAccess<T> extends InstanceCreatingMars
 
     public ExternalBytesMarshallableDataAccess(
             Class<T> tClass, SizedReader<T> reader, BytesWriter<? super T> writer) {
+        this(tClass, reader, writer, DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY);
+    }
+
+    private ExternalBytesMarshallableDataAccess(
+            Class<T> tClass, SizedReader<T> reader, BytesWriter<? super T> writer,
+            long bytesCapacity) {
         super(tClass);
         this.writer = writer;
         this.reader = reader;
-        initTransients();
+        initTransients(bytesCapacity);
     }
 
-    private void initTransients() {
-        bytes = DefaultElasticBytes.allocateDefaultElasticBytes();
+    private void initTransients(long bytesCapacity) {
+        bytes = DefaultElasticBytes.allocateDefaultElasticBytes(bytesCapacity);
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -115,7 +122,7 @@ public class ExternalBytesMarshallableDataAccess<T> extends InstanceCreatingMars
     @Override
     public DataAccess<T> copy() {
         return new ExternalBytesMarshallableDataAccess<>(
-                tClass(), copyIfNeeded(reader), copyIfNeeded(writer));
+                tClass(), copyIfNeeded(reader), copyIfNeeded(writer), bytes.realCapacity());
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -123,7 +130,7 @@ public class ExternalBytesMarshallableDataAccess<T> extends InstanceCreatingMars
         super.readMarshallable(wireIn);
         reader = wireIn.read(() -> "reader").typedMarshallable();
         writer = wireIn.read(() -> "writer").typedMarshallable();
-        initTransients();
+        initTransients(DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY);
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/ExternalizableDataAccess.java b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/ExternalizableDataAccess.java
index 35dcaee15..b03d14cf2 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/ExternalizableDataAccess.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/ExternalizableDataAccess.java
@@ -29,12 +29,19 @@ import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.ObjectInputStream;
 import java.io.ObjectOutputStream;
 
+import static net.openhft.chronicle.hash.serialization.impl.DefaultElasticBytes.DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY;
+
 public class ExternalizableDataAccess<T extends Externalizable> extends SerializableDataAccess<T> {
 
     /** Config field */
     private Class<T> tClass;
 
     public ExternalizableDataAccess(Class<T> tClass) {
+        this(tClass, DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY);
+    }
+
+    private ExternalizableDataAccess(Class<T> tClass, long bytesCapacity) {
+        super(bytesCapacity);
         this.tClass = tClass;
     }
 
@@ -80,13 +87,13 @@ public class ExternalizableDataAccess<T extends Externalizable> extends Serializ
 
     @Override
     public DataAccess<T> copy() {
-        return new ExternalizableDataAccess<>(tClass);
+        return new ExternalizableDataAccess<>(tClass, bytes.realCapacity());
     }
 
     @Override
     public void readMarshallable(@NotNull WireIn wireIn) {
         tClass = wireIn.read(() -> "tClass").typeLiteral();
-        initTransients();
+        initTransients(DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY);
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/SerializableDataAccess.java b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/SerializableDataAccess.java
index 50747b875..7ca2b7763 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/SerializableDataAccess.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/SerializableDataAccess.java
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
 import java.io.*;
 
+import static net.openhft.chronicle.hash.serialization.impl.DefaultElasticBytes.DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY;
+
 public class SerializableDataAccess<T extends Serializable> extends AbstractData<T>
         implements DataAccess<T> {
 
@@ -41,11 +43,15 @@ public class SerializableDataAccess<T extends Serializable> extends AbstractData
     transient T instance;
 
     public SerializableDataAccess() {
-        initTransients();
+        this(DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY);
     }
 
-    void initTransients() {
-        bytes = DefaultElasticBytes.allocateDefaultElasticBytes();
+    SerializableDataAccess(long bytesCapacity) {
+        initTransients(bytesCapacity);
+    }
+
+    void initTransients(long bytesCapacity) {
+        bytes = DefaultElasticBytes.allocateDefaultElasticBytes(bytesCapacity);
         out = bytes.outputStream();
         in = bytes.inputStream();
     }
@@ -103,13 +109,13 @@ public class SerializableDataAccess<T extends Serializable> extends AbstractData
 
     @Override
     public DataAccess<T> copy() {
-        return new SerializableDataAccess<>();
+        return new SerializableDataAccess<>(bytes.realCapacity());
     }
 
     @Override
     public void readMarshallable(@NotNull WireIn wireIn) {
         // no fields to read
-        initTransients();
+        initTransients(DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY);
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/SizedMarshallableDataAccess.java b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/SizedMarshallableDataAccess.java
index 31515db27..2dbc88378 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/SizedMarshallableDataAccess.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/SizedMarshallableDataAccess.java
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
 import static net.openhft.chronicle.hash.serialization.StatefulCopyable.copyIfNeeded;
+import static net.openhft.chronicle.hash.serialization.impl.DefaultElasticBytes.DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY;
 
 public class SizedMarshallableDataAccess<T> extends InstanceCreatingMarshaller<T>
         implements DataAccess<T>, Data<T> {
@@ -47,10 +48,16 @@ public class SizedMarshallableDataAccess<T> extends InstanceCreatingMarshaller<T
 
     public SizedMarshallableDataAccess(
             Class<T> tClass, SizedReader<T> sizedReader, SizedWriter<? super T> sizedWriter) {
+        this(tClass, sizedReader, sizedWriter, DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY);
+    }
+
+    private SizedMarshallableDataAccess(
+            Class<T> tClass, SizedReader<T> sizedReader, SizedWriter<? super T> sizedWriter,
+            long bytesCapacity) {
         super(tClass);
         this.sizedWriter = sizedWriter;
         this.sizedReader = sizedReader;
-        initTransients();
+        initTransients(bytesCapacity);
     }
 
     SizedReader<T> sizedReader() {
@@ -61,8 +68,8 @@ public class SizedMarshallableDataAccess<T> extends InstanceCreatingMarshaller<T
         return sizedWriter;
     }
 
-    private void initTransients() {
-        bytes = DefaultElasticBytes.allocateDefaultElasticBytes();
+    private void initTransients(long bytesCapacity) {
+        bytes = DefaultElasticBytes.allocateDefaultElasticBytes(bytesCapacity);
         targetBytes = VanillaBytes.vanillaBytes();
     }
 
@@ -143,7 +150,8 @@ public class SizedMarshallableDataAccess<T> extends InstanceCreatingMarshaller<T
     @Override
     public DataAccess<T> copy() {
         return new SizedMarshallableDataAccess<>(
-                tClass(), copyIfNeeded(sizedReader), copyIfNeeded(sizedWriter));
+                tClass(), copyIfNeeded(sizedReader), copyIfNeeded(sizedWriter),
+                bytes.realCapacity());
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -151,7 +159,7 @@ public class SizedMarshallableDataAccess<T> extends InstanceCreatingMarshaller<T
         super.readMarshallable(wireIn);
         sizedReader = wireIn.read(() -> "sizedReader").typedMarshallable();
         sizedWriter = wireIn.read(() -> "sizedWriter").typedMarshallable();
-        initTransients();
+        initTransients(DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY);
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/StringBuilderUtf8DataAccess.java b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/StringBuilderUtf8DataAccess.java
index 57178d53a..123a99d04 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/StringBuilderUtf8DataAccess.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/StringBuilderUtf8DataAccess.java
@@ -20,9 +20,19 @@ package net.openhft.chronicle.hash.serialization.impl;
 import net.openhft.chronicle.hash.serialization.DataAccess;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
+import static net.openhft.chronicle.hash.serialization.impl.DefaultElasticBytes.DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY;
+
 public final class StringBuilderUtf8DataAccess
         extends AbstractCharSequenceUtf8DataAccess<StringBuilder> {
 
+    public StringBuilderUtf8DataAccess() {
+        this(DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY);
+    }
+
+    private StringBuilderUtf8DataAccess(long bytesCapacity) {
+        super(bytesCapacity);
+    }
+
     @Override
     public StringBuilder getUsing(@Nullable StringBuilder using) {
         if (using != null) {
@@ -36,6 +46,6 @@ public final class StringBuilderUtf8DataAccess
 
     @Override
     public DataAccess<StringBuilder> copy() {
-        return new StringBuilderUtf8DataAccess();
+        return new StringBuilderUtf8DataAccess(bytes().realCapacity());
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/StringUtf8DataAccess.java b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/StringUtf8DataAccess.java
index eb7fbe887..96e931175 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/StringUtf8DataAccess.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/StringUtf8DataAccess.java
@@ -22,6 +22,14 @@ import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
 public final class StringUtf8DataAccess extends AbstractCharSequenceUtf8DataAccess<String> {
 
+    public StringUtf8DataAccess() {
+        this(DefaultElasticBytes.DEFAULT_BYTES_CAPACITY);
+    }
+
+    private StringUtf8DataAccess(long bytesCapacity) {
+        super(bytesCapacity);
+    }
+
     @Override
     public String getUsing(@Nullable String using) {
         return cs;
@@ -29,6 +37,6 @@ public final class StringUtf8DataAccess extends AbstractCharSequenceUtf8DataAcce
 
     @Override
     public DataAccess<String> copy() {
-        return new StringUtf8DataAccess();
+        return new StringUtf8DataAccess(bytes().realCapacity());
     }
 }