Well, crap. (2019 Outback Offshore)

He had a bilge pump. Watch the video again. 
As he stated, he had to stop multiple times to pump the water out. 

you must've missed around 5:45:00 in the video

 
I only got one person to go back to watch a 12 min video for a response .
Didn't miss anything. Just trying to see how many people would go back to watch this. 

He had a bilge pump. Watch the video again. 
As he stated, he had to stop multiple times to pump the water out. 

you must've missed around 5:45:00 in the video

 
I only got one person to go back to watch a 12 min video for a response .
Didn't miss anything. Just trying to see how many people would go back to watch this. 

This we call backpedaling 

So I have been keeping my eyes peeled on this one.  After my testing, I did get some water, but not a ton.  Still, I feel like it should be do-able to seal it up better.  Reading on the hobie forums, they may upgrade the seal on these kayaks to make it better, but havent confirmed yet.

Here is another test, seems like significantly more intense conditions if you are interested.

Interesting video, but I don't agree with his conclusion, where he says that "3/4 gallon" of water is acceptable. Unless there was a lot more to it that he didn't show, there were just a few rollers over the front hatch, and no way it should have taken on any significant amount of water. Sailing the AI in moderate conditions, the nose gets buried in swells all the time, and I don't get that much water, even after several hours.

Btw, if you want to get some good ideas as to how to better seal the front hatch, I'd suggest that you look at what AI owners have done. A couple of popular fixes are the following:

1) Cut out a yoga mat and fit it inside the hatch cover.
2) Make a plastic "shower cap" to cover the hatch opening before closing the hatch.

I've tried both of these, and 1) worked pretty well, but the mat traps moisture, and I figured it would make it hard to pass mussel inspection, so I gave up on that. Number 2) works well too, but is a hassle when opening and closing the hatch, so I ditched that idea.

What I ended up doing was making a closed loop of 3/4" thin-walled (1/16") silicone rubber tubing and place it in the groove where the hatch cover seats against the kayak. That seems to work best for me, and I don't see any downside to it. I can post a picture if that would be useful.

Thanks Nowhereman.  I would like to see a pic if you have one.

Hobie said they will be issuing a fix for those that are having leakage.  I am guessing it will just be the hatch gasket for the PA that they will give to people with the outbacks.

I talked with one of the folks at Kayak Connection in Santa Cruz.  They said they have a guy who custom makes neoprene hatch covers.  Which is supposed to help with water getting in.  So, perhaps a combo of a better gasket, and a neoprene cover under the hatch lid might do the trick.  That and marine goop on every screw/etc.

It makes zero sense to me that the thing could not be sealed completely, or at the very least sealed to the point where it would never take on water unless completely submerged.

He had a bilge pump. Watch the video again. 
As he stated, he had to stop multiple times to pump the water out. 

Uh, is it just me, or does anyone else think after the second water-pumping bilge action in a brand-new boat, I'd turn around and head back to the beach?  Long on gear and short on common sense?  Dude has a retractor for his scissors, FGS!

Bushy

It's what you'd expect to happen when you take a bass boat into the ocean...

It's what you'd expect to happen when you take a bass boat into the ocean...

ooohhh BURN!

Thanks Nowhereman.  I would like to see a pic if you have one.

Hobie said they will be issuing a fix for those that are having leakage.  I am guessing it will just be the hatch gasket for the PA that they will give to people with the outbacks.

I talked with one of the folks at Kayak Connection in Santa Cruz.  They said they have a guy who custom makes neoprene hatch covers.  Which is supposed to help with water getting in.  So, perhaps a combo of a better gasket, and a neoprene cover under the hatch lid might do the trick.  That and marine goop on every screw/etc.

It makes zero sense to me that the thing could not be sealed completely, or at the very least sealed to the point where it would never take on water unless completely submerged.

And, your boat may not have this problem at all.  One way to tell.  Take it out and get it really wet.

Bushy

Thanks Nowhereman.  I would like to see a pic if you have one.

Hobie said they will be issuing a fix for those that are having leakage.  I am guessing it will just be the hatch gasket for the PA that they will give to people with the outbacks.

I talked with one of the folks at Kayak Connection in Santa Cruz.  They said they have a guy who custom makes neoprene hatch covers.  Which is supposed to help with water getting in.  So, perhaps a combo of a better gasket, and a neoprene cover under the hatch lid might do the trick.  That and marine goop on every screw/etc.

It makes zero sense to me that the thing could not be sealed completely, or at the very least sealed to the point where it would never take on water unless completely submerged.

And, your boat may not have this problem at all.  One way to tell.  Take it out and get it really wet.

Bushy

+1.

I have a neoprene gasket on the front hatch of my kraken...works well for me and the kind of paddling etc I do...I would imagine something similar would be pretty easy to custom make...

 

Sincerely,

Jim

His qualification of those tiny breakers as washing machine is funny compared to what we launch in. However the wind was blowing pretty hard for early morning. 8 mile round trip within 1-2 miles of shore with more moderate wind and OG ok. 8 miles straight out with that wind - not me. Cause I'm a wussey and a survivor

Try tomales on a really bad day... that wind Goes!!

I know the guy who made the video.  He was on the Hobie USA team when I was for the Hobie Worlds in Austrailia.  By no means is this guy a salty offshore fisherman.  He mostly fishes for bass, redfish, and speckled trout so near shore bays and lake fishing.  His offshore experience and lack of preparation not having a bilge pump discredits his opinion on the 2019 Outback. It seems like an easy problem to resolve.  I do want to test drive one in some good swells to see how it handles compared to the older models.

I know the guy who made the video.  He was on the Hobie USA team when I was for the Hobie Worlds in Austrailia.  By no means is this guy a salty offshore fisherman.  He mostly fishes for bass, redfish, and speckled trout so near shore bays and lake fishing.  His offshore experience and lack of preparation not having a bilge pump discredits his opinion on the 2019 Outback. It seems like an easy problem to resolve.  I do want to test drive one in some good swells to see how it handles compared to the older models.

Yes, but he will never lose his scissors!!  Thanks for the background.  I guess we know enough to be scared haha

Bushy

Thanks Nowhereman.  I would like to see a pic if you have one.

Here's some pictures that hopefully make it clear.

And, your boat may not have this problem at all.  One way to tell.  Take it out and get it really wet.

Bushy

Yes, before you do anything, you should make sure there's actually a problem that requires fixing.