How much water is too much inside Hobie AI ???

Made a shower cap with Tyvek. Any plastic fabric will do. Tyvek is durable.   Works really well. Not a drop from the front hatch.  But then, it’s another piece of gear.

Another technique that people sometimes use is to put a "shower cap" over the front hatch--it's discussed a bit in this thread from the Hobie forum:

https://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=51145&sid=f2afbc3054b8c831b026e4a1db588ae1

I made such a "shower cap" out of thin neoprene, and I figured out how to get it to seal really well. However, I never tested it out, as I was convinced that my silicone tubing was doing the trick. Now that I'm having doubts, I'm going to use the shower cap approach, along with my silicone tube gasket, and see if it makes a difference. If no/little water gets in, I'll know it was the front hatch--otherwise I'll know to look elsewhere.

I tried my neoprene "shower cap" but could not use it with my silicone tubing. Just the shower cap seemed to make no difference, so I suspect the water I'm seeing is from other places, like rudder lines and maybe the round hatches. I've been sailing pretty hard with lots of spray and water over the top, so the amount of water I'm getting might be unavoidable...

Today I went to SC, mostly to escape the heat. There was a nice cool fog all morning. Later, there was quite a bit of wind (the sheep came out to play), and I sailed for several hours in those fairly sloppy conditions.

After I got home, there was about 3-4 times as much water inside as previously. Upon close inspection, I found that one of those little plastic tubes that a rudder line passes through was out of place (not completely out, but far enough out that it was loose fitting). I suspect that the rudder and steering lines are the main cause of the water that I'm getting inside the hull. If anybody has any suggestions on how to make those more water-resistant, LMK...

Today I went to SC, mostly to escape the heat. There was a nice cool fog all morning. Later, there was quite a bit of wind (the sheep came out to play), and I sailed for several hours in those fairly sloppy conditions.

After I got home, there was about 3-4 times as much water inside as previously. Upon close inspection, I found that one of those little plastic tubes that a rudder line passes through was out of place (not completely out, but far enough out that it was loose fitting). I suspect that the rudder and steering lines are the main cause of the water that I'm getting inside the hull. If anybody has any suggestions on how to make those more water-resistant, LMK...

Here is a modification I found on youtube to seal that area better. I have not tried it myself but looks much more water tight than what i have now. The edges of my plastic tubes are actually cracked/ eroded away.

https://youtu.be/Swwr8zLOs3I?feature=shared

Inside the hull there is also a hook/keep near the round hatch that will tuck the plastic tubes against the inside top of the hull. The concave downward bend of the plastic tubes will also help in not bringing water in.

Inside the hull there is also a hook/keep near the round hatch that will tuck the plastic tubes against the inside top of the hull. The concave downward bend of the plastic tubes will also help in not bringing water in.

That's a good point. Of the 4 plastic tubes on my AI, 2 of them were not attached under the hooks. So, I've hooked them up, and I'll see if that makes any difference. It certainly can't hurt...

Wonder if you could put a gopro in your rear hatch and see the water enter through the lines?  But also wonder, since i'm wondering, at what point is a bilge going to be necessary?

But also wonder, since i'm wondering, at what point is a bilge going to be necessary?

If Mr X can do R2AK without a bilge pump, I’m thinking I’ll never need one. Actually, I’m curious how much water in the hull he had to deal with.