Hobie AI front hatch seal replacement?

The rubber seals on the inside of my front hatches came unglued.  First was the upper lid seal, and after last weekend the inner one got ripped off by shoving stuff inside my hull.   Is there a better way to fix this than trying to goop them back in place?  Front hatch has always been a bit leaky, especially when punching waves.  Definitely want to to fix it before taking it sailing.

Whether you goop it on or not, you should do something to seal the front hatch. That's a well-known problem on the AI.

On the Hobie forum, it seems the most popular solution is a piece of yoga mat glued inside the hatch lid. Some also use a "shower cap" over the open hatch.

After experimenting with both of those approaches, I found both to be lacking, and instead, I use a piece of silicone tubing. It compresses around the hatch and flexes enough so that water entry is minimal.

I use a piece of silicone tubing. It compresses around the hatch and flexes enough so that water entry is minimal.

Hi there!   

Can you elaborate on how you are using the silicone tubing and maybe provide your opinion on the appropriate outer diameter of the tubing?  I took my AI out in gnarly conditions - took many waves over the bow/hatch and after 6-8 hrs on the water, I had at least 2 gallons in the hull...   not a great feeling.  Given the conditions, Im pretty sure it was coming in through the front hatch, at least I hope so.  No modifications have been made to the front hatch and I am aware this is a major issue with AIs.  I tightened the bungees as mentioned on the hobie forum, but in the same thread, the suggestion is made to remove the lower seal all together.  Before I start removing seals, Id like to try this approach.  Any other thoughts would be welcomed on this.   

+1 
I have 5 saltwater trips in my new-to me AI and am taking on water there as well.

Since both my inner and outer seal came undone from shoving camping gear in my front hath I saw another post on a Hobie forum where someone used pipe insulation to redo the bottom seal and said it was an improvement.  I've got the insulation and just about ready to install it but am also going to redo my FF install and am trying to figure out what I want to do there first.  Seems like a decent idea, easy to do and cheap.   Will update once I do it and see how well it works.

I use a piece of silicone tubing. It compresses around the hatch and flexes enough so that water entry is minimal.

Hi there!   

Can you elaborate on how you are using the silicone tubing and maybe provide your opinion on the appropriate outer diameter of the tubing? 

I use 3/4" silicone rubber tubing, with 1/8" thick wall. It's a continuous loop that's sealed to keep water out (I happened to have a thin-walled 1/2" silicon tubing that I gooped in place to seal the ends together, but anything 1/2" in diameter and a bit flexible will work).

I can't find it at the moment, but on the Hobie forum, somebody posted a video from a camera that was inside the front hatch of an AI during heavy seas. When the plastic flexed as it nosedived under a wave, a large amount of water would get sucked in thru the "seal". You need something that can flex to match the flex in the hatch area. Silicone tubing seems to have the right amount of flex, and it's worked well on both my AI and Adventure.

If your inner seal failed and came off, do you think the silicone tube alone would be enough to keep water out? Maybe I could cut one down the middle and use it for a new inner seal if that didn't work?  Or, I can try to goop back the old one in place...  Will of course have to explore options if that pipe insulation doesn't work out.

Thank you!   
I'll try the silicon tubing method as described!   

Does the hatch cover rest on top of the silicone tube? Or does it wrap around the tube completely? How effective does this tube keep your hull dry?

thx,
ernest

Thank you!   
I'll try the silicon tubing method as described!   

Thank you and I am going to do the same!

Does the hatch cover rest on top of the silicone tube? Or does it wrap around the tube completely? How effect does this tube keep your hull dry?

thx,
ernest

Here's a picture with the hatch closed, so you can get an idea of how the tubing sits, relative to the cover.

When sailing in rough conditions, I'll get some water inside, which probably comes in around the rudder control lines and such. But, it's only a small fraction of the water I used to take on before this fix. I don't think I've ever had even close to a quart of water, post-fix, when it was easily a gallon or more without it.

You might also check that the center hatch seals reasonably well, as that can let in some water too--although nothing compared to the front hatch.

My center seal will not close easily and the last I checked, the gasket always "roll up" after I push the cover real hard     Maybe I should change the gasket, although I never open the center hatch at the sea.

I use 3/4" silicone rubber tubing, with 1/8" thick wall.

Thanks for the tips. I've ordered 5 feet of 1/2" ID x 3/4" OD and 1 foot of 1/4" ID x 1/2" OD silicone tubing from a brewery supply place.

I installed the tubing as shown and I'm wondering if 3/4" is too thick...  In principle, I can see how this would be an improvement, however, where the front hatch lid is bent in the middle, I'm not sure the lid is sealing at all with the tubing or with the original seal.  With enough downward pressure, maybe, but I'm not sure I trust it.  I may try 5/8" OD. 

My center seal will not close easily and the last I checked, the gasket always "roll up" after I push the cover real hard     Maybe I should change the gasket, although I never open the center hatch at the sea.

I wrapped the rubber gasket in Teflon plumbers tape (the white stuff from Home Depot). That makes it open and close smoothly, and it lasts at least a couple of seasons. It might not hold up too well to sand and grit, but the tape is cheap and easy to apply. I tried all kinds of other ways to lube the hatch, and nothing else worked for me.