Sealing stealth 14 hatches - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

tomahawk · 03-30-2013, 12:01 PM

My stealth 14 gets water in both main hull and the "storage comparment" next to the bait tank. For the storage compartment it is obviously from the hatch (no other way in). Which part of the hatch is unclear. It could be leaking where the hatch attaches to the kayak or where the hatch opens and closes. Any ideas? I am thinking of drilling out all the rivet and using marine goop between the hatch and kayak. The hatch itself is more of a mystery on how I would improve that. The main hull potentially has the the hatch next to the bait tank, the rod holders, and gator hatch in addition to the obvious, hull leaks. Same fixes could apply to the hatch and rod holders. There are no obvious holes in the hull, if the hull is leaking I would guess it woulld be a one of the scuppers. For a figure of merit, I was out 5 hours last week in LB harbor, no real swell, didn't get swamped by a wake, just some wind chop. I had about a small dixie cup worth of water in the storage compartment and about a gallon in main hull. I have heard people on this site talk about filling the kayak with water to check for leaks but the engineer in me is saying that is a bad idea.
Thanks for reading and any responses,
Tom

jruiz · 03-30-2013, 12:12 PM

I'm a rocket scientist and a part time brain surgeon and I put about a gallon of water in the hull to find leaks below the water line and soapy water and mild air pressure through the drain hole to find leaks above water line. My leaks were most things that had pop rivets like hatches and flush mount rod holders

Dannowar · 03-30-2013, 01:19 PM

It's definitely the front hatch that's letting in the majority. I'd put some weather seal along the bottom of the gator hatch. I really do t understand the need for a gigantic hatch in the front. Just more chances its gonna leak

tomahawk · 03-30-2013, 02:48 PM

Jruiz - If you would have said brain surgeon and part time rocket scientist... with the leak rate fairly low, I didn't think moving a few gallons of water around inside the kayak would be perceptive enough. I am not sure i'd be able to check the scuppers that way. In my initial comment, I really meant it didn't sound good to load 360 lbs of water in the kayak to get the same water line on the inside of the kayak that I have with me plus gear (260 for me + 60 for kayak +40 for gear) on the outside. I like the soapy water and air pressure and I am deinitely going to try that.
Dannowar - My son has the stealth 12 with the same gator hatch and basically gets nothing inside. Next time out I am going to snag his gator hatch. I wasn't thinking it was the GH just because the last time out it was pretty calm and i still got a fair bit inside.

ful-rac · 03-30-2013, 05:21 PM

Most of your water is probably coming in from the side hatches. Raise the back end up with your wheels, take your garden hose and put some water on the side hatches, watch for leaks. If your stealth was like mine you'll get some water in it. You can try sealing with goop, hopefully that will help. Always remember to check once in awhile for water entering the hull especially on those rough days, and pump out if you have to.

tomahawk · 04-01-2013, 10:36 PM

Tested the storage compartment yesterday. Leaks really bad between the hatch and the kayak (through the gasket). I want to drill out the rivets and marine goop the hatch down. Any ideas on replacing the rivets? I'd love to just replace them with SS machine screws and nuts but I don't believe I can reach that far in the inside.

03-30-2013, 12:01 PM	#1
tomahawk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 109	Sealing stealth 14 hatches My stealth 14 gets water in both main hull and the "storage comparment" next to the bait tank. For the storage compartment it is obviously from the hatch (no other way in). Which part of the hatch is unclear. It could be leaking where the hatch attaches to the kayak or where the hatch opens and closes. Any ideas? I am thinking of drilling out all the rivet and using marine goop between the hatch and kayak. The hatch itself is more of a mystery on how I would improve that. The main hull potentially has the the hatch next to the bait tank, the rod holders, and gator hatch in addition to the obvious, hull leaks. Same fixes could apply to the hatch and rod holders. There are no obvious holes in the hull, if the hull is leaking I would guess it woulld be a one of the scuppers. For a figure of merit, I was out 5 hours last week in LB harbor, no real swell, didn't get swamped by a wake, just some wind chop. I had about a small dixie cup worth of water in the storage compartment and about a gallon in main hull. I have heard people on this site talk about filling the kayak with water to check for leaks but the engineer in me is saying that is a bad idea. Thanks for reading and any responses, Tom

03-30-2013, 01:19 PM	#3
Dannowar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,823	It's definitely the front hatch that's letting in the majority. I'd put some weather seal along the bottom of the gator hatch. I really do t understand the need for a gigantic hatch in the front. Just more chances its gonna leak __________________ "Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you’ll suck forever." — Brian Wilson

03-30-2013, 05:21 PM	#5
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Most of your water is probably coming in from the side hatches. Raise the back end up with your wheels, take your garden hose and put some water on the side hatches, watch for leaks. If your stealth was like mine you'll get some water in it. You can try sealing with goop, hopefully that will help. Always remember to check once in awhile for water entering the hull especially on those rough days, and pump out if you have to. __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

03-30-2013, 12:12 PM	#2
jruiz Large Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: La Verne, CA Posts: 1,011	I'm a rocket scientist and a part time brain surgeon and I put about a gallon of water in the hull to find leaks below the water line and soapy water and mild air pressure through the drain hole to find leaks above water line. My leaks were most things that had pop rivets like hatches and flush mount rod holders

03-30-2013, 02:48 PM	#4
tomahawk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 109	Jruiz - If you would have said brain surgeon and part time rocket scientist... with the leak rate fairly low, I didn't think moving a few gallons of water around inside the kayak would be perceptive enough. I am not sure i'd be able to check the scuppers that way. In my initial comment, I really meant it didn't sound good to load 360 lbs of water in the kayak to get the same water line on the inside of the kayak that I have with me plus gear (260 for me + 60 for kayak +40 for gear) on the outside. I like the soapy water and air pressure and I am deinitely going to try that. Dannowar - My son has the stealth 12 with the same gator hatch and basically gets nothing inside. Next time out I am going to snag his gator hatch. I wasn't thinking it was the GH just because the last time out it was pretty calm and i still got a fair bit inside.

04-01-2013, 10:36 PM	#6
tomahawk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 109	Tested the storage compartment yesterday. Leaks really bad between the hatch and the kayak (through the gasket). I want to drill out the rivets and marine goop the hatch down. Any ideas on replacing the rivets? I'd love to just replace them with SS machine screws and nuts but I don't believe I can reach that far in the inside.