6 years later, Wilderness decides to change the leaky Orbix hatch

Yikes, that doesn't look good...yeah I'd definitely add a seal on the lip or flange.

I don't know if you did this or not when closing the new style hatch. You need to compress all the way around it and not just rely on the latches to pull it closed. It is now an interference fit from the lid to the rubber seal/groove and it needs to be pressed down.

I have had an older Tarpon 120 with old hatches (tupperware in front and screw center hatch) and didn't mind them.....until the new design came out. (2009) When I got an updated T-120 with new hatches, rails and seat I found all the new features to be a major improvement, mainly the hatches.  I fish exclusively freshwater so I am not punching through waves and paddling in slop so for the most part my boat was always dry. With that being said I would gladly sacrifice taking on a little water (to reiterate what others have said....this is a water sport) for the convenience factor of the orbix hatches.  Accessing the center with a quick flick lock was a major improvement, front bow hatch that is easy to open both on water and on land also very nice.  Not to mention not having to worry when you are going 80 mph on the freeway if you reallllly sealed that tupperware hatch down good or are you gonna see it flying off in your rearview.  Yes the hatches are not 100% water tight, but in my opinion worth it and welcomed.  Last year I got a T-140 with the same style hatches and love it.  The new hatches on 2015 boats seem to seal really well, the only 2015 W.S. boat I have paddled so far is the Thresher which doesn't apply so I cant say for sure how waterproof the new hatches are but they look like a big improvement.   I will say they require a little more work for opening and closing but nothing compared to tupperware hatches.  At the end of the day (and this post) buy the kayak that YOU want to buy because it has the features YOU want.

  Maybe your next boat should be a Santa Cruz Raptor...  We've been using the same hatch for four years now.    Seals up  tight and easy to reach.

Nice! Still going to play with the Raptor sooner or later...

Nice! Still going to play with the Raptor sooner or later...

      Making a special edition  All Carbon Fiber version for you Ron !   

Just an Update.

My modifications to the hatches are performing well.  We had some big swells lately, surf was up and out on the water waves were crashing over the bow.
Just drops of water made it inside the hull.  This is good.

What I found out about this kayak, it must have a rudder. I would not recommend the new style T160s without a rudder.  It is not capable of tracking in a straight line without it.  Weathercocking (http://superiorpaddling.com/kayak-weathercocking/)  made paddling this kayak a PITA nightmare.

Now with the rudder, picking up the kayak with the middle handle, it is balanced.  Before the nose wants to dive down when carrying it.

Putting a Stick Jacket over the  rods make it so much easier to stow rods below.
My reels are bolted on the rod.  So the idea that I can put them in a dry bag isn't going to happen.

The center hatch is good.  I need to work out a solution to keep my tupperware container with all my jigs from disappearing.

The mesh I removed and the pockets are not a bad idea, just that you need a way for water to escape.

I tried the front rails with a scotty rod holder, but I was not feeling confident it would stay.  Those Yellows can really pull hard.
Instead I removed the front rails completely.  I kept the back rails because I still need that bungee cord.

I like the shape of the seat and the way you  are in relation to your feet.  Much more comfortable, I feel I can sit in this kayak much longer without any pain.

The tank well is bigger so I can put bigger items in.  This is good.  There is that space between the tank well and seat that is open, so it is wasted space imo.  Wish there was a back hatch.

I hope this kayak performs well with the rudder.  We shall see.

Just an Update.

My modifications to the hatches are performing well.  We had some big swells lately, surf was up and out on the water waves were crashing over the bow.
Just drops of water made it inside the hull.  This is good.

What I found out about this kayak, it must have a rudder. I would not recommend the new style T160s without a rudder. It is not capable of tracking in a straight line without it.  Weathercocking (http://superiorpaddling.com/kayak-weathercocking/)  made paddling this kayak a PITA nightmare.

Now with the rudder, picking up the kayak with the middle handle, it is balanced.  Before the nose wants to dive down when carrying it.

Putting a Stick Jacket over the  rods make it so much easier to stow rods below.
My reels are bolted on the rod.  So the idea that I can put them in a dry bag isn't going to happen.

The center hatch is good.  I need to work out a solution to keep my tupperware container with all my jigs from disappearing.

The mesh I removed and the pockets are not a bad idea, just that you need a way for water to escape.

I tried the front rails with a scotty rod holder, but I was not feeling confident it would stay.  Those Yellows can really pull hard.
Instead I removed the front rails completely.  I kept the back rails because I still need that bungee cord.

I like the shape of the seat and the way you  are in relation to your feet.  Much more comfortable, I feel I can sit in this kayak much longer without any pain.

The tank well is bigger so I can put bigger items in.  This is good.  There is that space between the tank well and seat that is open, so it is wasted space imo.  Wish there was a back hatch.

I hope this kayak performs well with the rudder.  We shall see.

I use two cloth Walmart bags to store food, water or bait in my 120. I also have a dry box with a bungee attached. I run the bungee through the handles of the bags and clip it to the loop inside the center hatch with a carabiner. If the bag is out of reach I pull on the bungee to retrieve it. With one bag stuffed in front and one behind the hatch I can put Tupperware there and it can't slide out of reach.
I have a urinal with a handle bungied to the loop on one side, also a sponge and a bilge pump. It really helps to be able to keep things stuffed into the boat and still be able to use them on the water.

I like your observations mostly except that my 160 paddles straight with or with out the rudder.