Wilderness Systems leaky front hatch testing and repair

[@SA-zs4nm]

Appreciate the video Todd. I have an Wilderness System Aspire 105 with the same hatch in the stern, which leaks as well. Same divots in the plastic as you described with minimal silicone applied from the factory.

[@aaronwhite1607]

I can confirm that this works! The blue kayak plastic warps down in the heat and cold over time. Caulking seals it up better than anything they can put on from the factory. Super easy, and very effective. I would encourage a negative pressure test after to confirm you have a good seal. Fill the kayak dry spaces up partially with water, and then flip the kayak over and wait a few minutes. Water will drip out wherever you have an issue! After that go paddling!

[@WildIrishSoul]

I'm having same issue with both of my hatches on my tarpon 120. It's really bothering me . Did this work for you ?

[@420RyanBruce]

Having the same problem with my feelfree lure 13.5 Planning on doing exactly this.

[@wrightclick]

Wonder if this is a Feelfree problem! Had some water leak into the hatch on my brand new Aventura, too

[@420RyanBruce]

@@wrightclick I think its similar on all top hatches though really. It's kind of hit or miss with most I've seen unfortunately. This did pretty much fix mine .

[@Wolf-CanisLupus]

I am wondering if you can install that type of hatch cover on a 2008 wilderness tarpon 160i

[@choucha5230]

I have a 2018 radar 135. Took it out to the ocean going trough the surf. After a few hour fishing out in the ocean and got back to shore. I got about 8 gal of water inside my kayak. I did couple research and everybody having same issue. Especially the center hatch is where it leaks most.

[@kyakfsh]

Yeah, I suspect the water I'm still getting inside is coming through the center hatch. Haven't gotten around to fixing it yet.

[@parkerfortune8313]

You think the new tarpon orbix hatch will leak?

[@dubstronaut]

DID IT WORK???

[@kyakfsh]

For the most part, yes. Some small amount of leakage, but nothing as bad as before.

[@aaronwhite1607]

My Orbix hatch is terrible. Can't believe how bad it is for the money I spent on this kayak. I'm going to use marine grade caulking. Thanks for giving me the idea. Will have to see how it goes! Cheers

[@Psyanizzle]

How did it work for you? I’m contemplating doing this.

[@aaronwhite1607]

@@Psyanizzle hey sorry. Just seeing this. Much much better! The orbix hatch comes off the actual kayak plastic. I smothered it in caulking and squished the hatch back down on the kayak again and watched it ooze up through the screw holes. I wiped away the excess immediately to make it look sensible. Let it dry out completely and then did a negative pressure test (fill the kayak partially with water close the hatches and flip it upside down). There was a very slow drip from the handle screw only (not the orbix handle, the kayak carrying handle at the back). Got new rubber coated washers and now it’s waterproof. If it doesn’t drip in a negative pressure test it’s definitely not going to leak when water simply washes up over it. Been bone dry since (excluding condensation… which has nothing to do with seal issues). Been out on multi day trips since and it has been great! Love the orbix hatch! It’s definitely salvageable. Enjoy! Let me know how it goes.

[@micheldion7643]

So did the this work?

[@kyakfsh]

For the most part, yes. I'm still getting a little seepage, but I haven't confirmed with an interior camera yet. The big time leaking seems to be fixed.

[@rigcol]

Todd Ferrante Todd, I had the same issue. I used plumbers putty where you used the silicon and sealed the orbix hatch. No water whatsoever.