Hobie round hatch ?????

So I've had the Revo-13 for almost a year.
I have opened the center hatch only 10-12 times max.
I am having trouble opening or closing the center round hatch. I have cleaned the gasket and the track as well as the area of contact. Is there a trick to proper operation? I can't believe that a company that sells this many kayaks can't supply a hatch that will work more than a dozen times or last more than a year.
Any positive input appreciated

Apply silicone grease like the one that came with Kokatat dry suit for the zipper end to the O ring liberally. You can also buy something similar grease from a hardware store plumbing department. Works like a charm, but you’ll have to occasionally apply it

Vaseline or if your in Germany Veinerslicken

I though of some kind of lube, but wouldn't that make it worse when (inevitably) sand and grit sticks to the grease?

I use armoral on the seal, few times a year to keep her lubed up!

Yes, sand will stick at some point. I just give it a quick wipe and it’s good while still staying slick

So I've had the Revo-13 for almost a year.
I have opened the center hatch only 10-12 times max.
I am having trouble opening or closing the center round hatch. I have cleaned the gasket and the track as well as the area of contact. Is there a trick to proper operation? I can't believe that a company that sells this many kayaks can't supply a hatch that will work more than a dozen times or last more than a year.
Any positive input appreciated

Thanks for Posting this problem and thanks for all the Answers. I'm still a Newbies and I have the same problem on my OutBack front Hatch 

I use armoral on the seal, few times a year to keep her lubed up!

+1
I do the same and not just at the o-ring/hatch. I armor all the the whole boat at least twice a year to keep all those sun baking and saltwater affects away.
You would want to use a brush to clean those sands out asap so they don't damage the rubber seals.

I don't grease or lube mine,never had a problem.now she. You put the gear bucket in and don't align it,you'll have trouble locking it down.2 pa and a revo no issues.now if you don't put some kind of grease on the gasket underneath it leaks a little,very little but not all hatches leaked

I use armoral on the seal, few times a year to keep her lubed up!

+1
I do the same and not just at the o-ring/hatch. I armor all the the whole boat at least twice a year to keep all those sun baking and saltwater affects away.
You would want to use a brush to clean those sands out asap so they don't damage the rubber seals.

I use formula 303 after every session.only thing I ever use is some gasket grease on the o ring,very minimal

Grease and replace the o-rings often.  They are cheap.

I was just about to post this same question. I’ve got 2 Hobies, and a couple of the hatches are very, very finicky—nothing seems to work well, even silicone grease only lasts an outing, at best. I find that spit works as well as anything, and I always seem to have a ready supply, but it’s only good for one-time use. There has got to be a better way...

Grease and replace the o-rings often.  They are cheap.

I've never had to replace any,guess I've been lucky

I'd clean it and apply a good amount of 303 on the o ring.  If the o ring is loose or is giving you problems, just get a new one. 

I use armoral on the seal, few times a year to keep her lubed up!

+1
I do the same and not just at the o-ring/hatch. I armor all the the whole boat at least twice a year to keep all those sun baking and saltwater affects away.
You would want to use a brush to clean those sands out asap so they don't damage the rubber seals.

I use formula 303 after every session.only thing I ever use is some gasket grease on the o ring,very minimal

FWIW, my theory is that the tolerances on these hatches are not very strict, and some of them are just a lot tighter fit than others. If you are unlucky and get one of those, you're going to have problems. On the other hand, the looser ones probably leak more, but I care a lot less about a few drops of water than trying to deal with an annoying hatch that doesn't want to go shut.