How's the Rain Getting in, and What's the Fix?

Based on my preliminary evaluation, a significant amount of rain is entering the hull through the center and rear hatches. The front hatch is bone dry. What's the fix, and are there any other places where rain can be entering. We had about one inch of rain the other day during a downpour shower. Pic below shows infiltration.

Untitled by Larry Johnson, on Flickr

Check the gaskets under the hatch flange. You can direct some air into the drain hole and go around the boat with soapy water to find any leaks.

https://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=12575

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

Thanks for the link. Looks easy enough to determine where there are leaks, but doesn't offer any repair advice. If leaking around twist hatch, is a tube of silocone caulk the repair? Something else?

What leaks should not be plugged so that the hull continues to breathe?

There are no intended breather holes. The forward hatch would vent under pressure. Silicone would work.

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

Matt,

The Leak Check thread says," The hulls are designed to vent with changes in temperature and altitude pressure. Hulls need to "breathe". Without the vent, the hulls will flex ...

I was planning to replace the bungee straps on the front hatch with a solid latch of some type for ease of operation. If this is done, will the hull not breathe as designed?

There is no vent in a kayak. Likely that is from the sailboats. Kayaks vent easily through the forward hatch.

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

Looks like Matt overlooked the question. I don't think a latch would cause any problems. There are plenty of holes for the kayak to vent through. Rudder lines may be the lowest restriction aside from the front hatch.

The soap test reveals that the two round hatches are allowing water in at the rim because they aren't sealing tightly when closed. The wedge under the twist handle needs more of a wedge. Tried duct tape on it, but that didn't help for long.