2015 Outbacks leaking from the front hatch

The new 2015 Outbacks have a common problem. That problem is that the front hatch will allow water in when taken taken water over bow or from the sides. I have 3 friends with outbacks all with the same problem.They all take water on if they are in a little rough water. I just pick up mine last night and did a gasket test this morning. It failed!!!! In the pics you will see what I mean. I took a black chalk and rubbed it on the gasket then closed and secured the front hatch. Once I opened the hatch you can see the gasket does not even come in contact with the hatch in at least a 3rd of the surface. You will see this in the 1st 2 pics. One friend felt the front webbing that acts like a hinge for the hatch was to tight. So he loosened the webbing and this seemed to help but stop the water. In the 3rd pic you can see that the gasket does make contact but in some spots barely and in others you really cant say for sure if it does. And for a point of information if you loosen the front webbing the hatch will not open properly. I will calling Hobie to see what they say. I suspect they will say they weren't aware of this problem. To that I wont believe. The only way I can see in solving this problem is a bigger gasket that makes full contact with the front hatch
Sorry cant seem to upload pics here will be posting pics on Hobies Facebook page

Just called Hobie They acknowledge in a round bout way that the webbing had been cut to short.

Please call your dealer. That is the proper way to receive warranty assistance.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

This is not a warranty problem this is a flaw that should never happened. Why go through 3rd party for a easy fix like this. By the way two of my friends had there 100 dollars Hobie batteries ruined this problem. Maybe thats a warranty problem

Exactly the description of what warranty is all about. This is a workmanship issue / defect. All service is done through our dealers... That is part of their job. If you have an issue with your Ford... You call a dealer... not the factory in Detroit.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Now that hobie knows this problem is out there maybe they should notify there dealers to get in touch with the buyers to fix this and be proactive. I posted this on Facebook and it appears to be a common problem by the responses Im and others are getting back from the 2015 outback owners

Warranty / Tech staff are working on it.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I used this product, it's a trim lock gasket.


http://topkayaker.com/index.php?main_pa ... cts_id=432


I removed all gaskets that came with the outback at the front hatch. I installed this on the kayak itself where the tub would rest. So far I've found it keeps the water out of the tub altogether. There is still some water in the hull but I'm not sure if it still comes from that same area, no way to know.

The tub slides in and sits a little tight.

Thanks that all I expected from the start. Hobie is a very good company lets keep it that way

Well Hobie did right by me but had a friend call and couldn't believe the response he received. He was told not to take it out in bad weather. To buy a bilge pump or he might try the hatch liner . The final answer was and I'll quote I didn't design it. He is a bit more passive than I am but is this what we are dealing with . I for one would have ask to talk to his boss. Matt Miller please bring this to the attention to the person who can make sure this doesn't happen again

Very odd response. There is no hatch liner for an Outback either. Bad weather? Bilge pump? I guess that could help, but not the answer... Does he know who he talked to?

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

No I ask him that don't think he will follow up on it. If it was me I would be all over that

The hatch liner or insert aka the white bucket that fits in the front hatch.

Ah yeah... may bad. Forgot there was one for the Outback.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I don't want to go off topic on your thread, but I just wanted to mention that the hatches on the Revolutions leak too. Maybe not as bad though. I mentioned it in this thread last year: http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=52868