As a previous comment. The day hatch when new isn’t a good fit. But if you put silicon spray or Vaseline on the seal push it down firmly, warm water around the top. This will help mould the lip seal to its proper shape to the hatch cover. I went from a good cupful of water to dry, by doing this. Shouldn’t have to I agree, but a reasonable self help.
Thanks for the honest review. It doesn't matter how good a sea kayak is in performance, leaking hatches is a deal breaker for me. Particularly a round hatch should be bone dry. That has to be a bad moulding fault as I hear many others have leaking hatches. Even dry bags are not completely dry, so a wet hatch is not fit for purpose.
Great review, I had the same issue with the day hatch leaking. Turns out that the company that makes the hatch covers (kajaksport) make two types of covers that fit p&h boats in each size. The types are the "original" which works and the "click on" which doesn't. For some reason p&h fit "original" type covers to all the other hatches except the day hatch which is fitted with a "click on" type cover. I ordered an "original" cover for my day hatch and it is now just as water tight as the other hatches. Hope this helps
Nice review. Really like it as well as the area you paddle. The "day-hatch-problem" might be not as severe as you state. I had the same issue but as it is the only "click-on" hatch (for fast handling) it seems that when it clicks it should be sealed. I found out that after the "click" you still have to check it all around. A bit of petroleum jelly works wonders as well. The skeg doesn't contain a (metal) spring as you probably noticed already. As I read somewhere it might be sand or salt in the system. As the control is on top -- which is an advantage -- it collects sand and salt (a disadvantage). You should flush it with fresh water after paddling.
Hi, great review with lots of easy on the ear information. Just what I need when I am looking for my next kayak. Keep up the great work my friend. Paddle safe.
Love this review. I have the Corelite LV. My day hatch leaks as bad as yours. I've tried a soft rubber KS lid but to no avail. The rear hatch also leaks badly. After a hot day I have found that air pressure causes the hatch cover in the rear convex with warm air build up within but there is still a cup full of water inside. Air tight but not water tight. Even the front hatch has leakage issues. A pain when you do regular rolling as you do here in sub tropical Queensland in Aus. Bit of a laugh really as the small front day hatch had a note inside from P&H to warn me that the small day hatch will leak. If only!!!! The skeg setup ( like you I have skeg only, no skudder) is the worst piece of crap ever devised. I am on my second skeg as the original disintegrated on first use. This spring and string system is unworthy. Handling...the best kayak I have paddled...love it to bits.
Yeah, great handling. With duck tape around the rim of the day hatch, I've reduced water intake considerably. Might glue on some rubber from a bicycle tire inner. Fixing a wave deflector in front of front hatch (using bicycle tire tube) helped a lot on my previous kayak. Cheers.
Thanks for responding kayakcountry. Duct tape is an interesting thought although getting anything to stick to PE is a challenge. One of my solutions was to cut out a round "washer" from neoprene which sat under the rim of the hatch with the edge of the hatch lid sitting tight on top. Worked OK for a while but found the pressure caused indentations in the neoprene which created leaky spaces. My next solution is to do a similar thing but this time using rubber car door seal to sit around the underside of the rim connecting with the bottom of the hatch lid. Bit like your idea of the bicycle tyre inner tube. Waiting on delivery of the seal from China to try this. Cross fingers!! Happy paddles....Peter
Good report, I do own the Scorpio MV in PE - version. Could the leaking of the day hatch be fixed by using a softer rubber cover from Kajak Sport? As it seems to me the material of the day hatch is much harder than the other covers.
P & H sent me a rubber one under the warranty, and it is definitely better. Duck tape around the rim helps to create tighter fit, & will glue on something more permanent. Bad mold job I think.
Update from Qld. I seem to have solved my hatch leak issue with of all things, a simple rubbish bag. I just cut the oval shape out with enough overlay to ensure the hatch cover fitted easily. Sure, there was a little of the green plastic garbage bag visible under the hatch lid, but who cares on the water. I've yet to try a similar fix to my main problem, the gay hatch but I'm confident it will also work. I've found an appropriate size ziplock clear bag in the kitchen and have placed it in the hatch for a try out next time on water. I used the green garbage bag on 4 sessions in the surf a few weeks ago with plenty of rolling as well and not a drop found in the hatch at the end of each session. Very exciting. I have a small video of the session I speak of on UA-cam which I compiled for my paddle buddies. If you are interested here is the link ua-cam.com/video/am-9LJShEgQ/v-deo.html to paste in to your browser. As you can see, it was a good test for a garbage bag. Happy days.....Peter
Hi, another question: How did you adjust your tigh/legpads? In my Scorpio they're actually near middle on my tighs, with about 2 - 3cm towards my knees. When shoring up my legs on the pads and footrests, my knees are touching the cockpits roof. Paddling yesterday my knees felt bad after miles and I also think that my knees better don't touch the cockpit? Would this also help for better stability?
@ 5:00 - "That is shockingly bad!" ... I thought you were gonna use another word that rhymes with "bright." 😀 Would be totally proper for a Scotsman imo.
Did P&H come back to you? Have you solved the day hatch issue? You might try some "mold release agent" witch i used succesfully on lots of issues with plastic and rubber.
They offered to fix it - if I returned the kayak AT MY EXPENSE. Imagine that attitude from a car manufacturer with a car safety issue! 'Temporary' repair with glued rubber & tape still in place, seems ok for now. Thanks for the tip.
kayakcountry , Thanks for your reply. Sad to hear this. I had a issue with my old Prijon, just needed to get it to the dealer 36km away he send it back tp Prijon. Im thinking of buying a Seakajak and the Scorpio was in the Top 3, besides the Widerness Tempest ant the Prijon Seayak. It shoud outperform the Seayak, and be as tough as a Prijon.
Glad to hear it,thought you'd been taken out. I really appreciated your sanity and intelligence at the start of the takedown. You really helped. Cheers.
So basically it's JUNK. Kayaks are not that complicated everything should work properly. Leaking hatch and crap skeg control are they kidding? Puts me off trying any P&H product. You need to try other kayaks.
As a previous comment. The day hatch when new isn’t a good fit. But if you put silicon spray or Vaseline on the seal push it down firmly, warm water around the top. This will help mould the lip seal to its proper shape to the hatch cover. I went from a good cupful of water to dry, by doing this. Shouldn’t have to I agree, but a reasonable self help.
That was a very honest review. Very much appreciate the lack of music...Just an honest assessment, well done!
Cheers. Never any music on this channel!
Excellent Review. All point covered, very interesting and useful. Thank You!
Thanks for the honest review. It doesn't matter how good a sea kayak is in performance, leaking hatches is a deal breaker for me. Particularly a round hatch should be bone dry. That has to be a bad moulding fault as I hear many others have leaking hatches. Even dry bags are not completely dry, so a wet hatch is not fit for purpose.
Absolutely. And P&H are unwilling to fix the problem unless I return the kayak at my own expense. Not good enough.
Great review, I had the same issue with the day hatch leaking. Turns out that the company that makes the hatch covers (kajaksport) make two types of covers that fit p&h boats in each size. The types are the "original" which works and the "click on" which doesn't. For some reason p&h fit "original" type covers to all the other hatches except the day hatch which is fitted with a "click on" type cover. I ordered an "original" cover for my day hatch and it is now just as water tight as the other hatches. Hope this helps
I received a replacement hatch cover of the original, better type from P&H. Although indeed better, it still leaked!
Nice review, good, honest, plain speaking! One would think thst P&H would get the hatch seals figured out.
Thanks mate! Great review! I have one on order now. LV with skudder as I'm fitting a sail. Can't wait to get it out on the water! Cheers!
Too too few reviews like this. Thank you. It's an expensive kayak so one would expect not to have faults.
Yeah, the rear hatch also leaks badly now. And elastics wearing out already. Last P & H for me.
@@kayakcountry What would you go for next if you were buying?
You could probably melt bend the hatch? Heat it up a wee bit so that you form a sort of slight outard lip to it yeah.
Nice review. Really like it as well as the area you paddle.
The "day-hatch-problem" might be not as severe as you state. I had the same issue but as it is the only "click-on" hatch (for fast handling) it seems that when it clicks it should be sealed. I found out that after the "click" you still have to check it all around. A bit of petroleum jelly works wonders as well.
The skeg doesn't contain a (metal) spring as you probably noticed already. As I read somewhere it might be sand or salt in the system. As the control is on top -- which is an advantage -- it collects sand and salt (a disadvantage). You should flush it with fresh water after paddling.
P & H sent me a replacement slider control. The original was faulty.
Hi, great review with lots of easy on the ear information. Just what I need when I am looking for my next kayak. Keep up the great work my friend. Paddle safe.
Aye just be careful, my Scorpio has had some serious faults developing
Good review. Consider putting a disk of yoga mat-like material snug inside the day hatch lid to act as a gasket, if P & H don't come through.
Love this review. I have the Corelite LV. My day hatch leaks as bad as yours. I've tried a soft rubber KS lid but to no avail. The rear hatch also leaks badly. After a hot day I have found that air pressure causes the hatch cover in the rear convex with warm air build up within but there is still a cup full of water inside. Air tight but not water tight. Even the front hatch has leakage issues. A pain when you do regular rolling as you do here in sub tropical Queensland in Aus.
Bit of a laugh really as the small front day hatch had a note inside from P&H to warn me that the small day hatch will leak. If only!!!!
The skeg setup ( like you I have skeg only, no skudder) is the worst piece of crap ever devised. I am on my second skeg as the original disintegrated on first use. This spring and string system is unworthy. Handling...the best kayak I have paddled...love it to bits.
Yeah, great handling. With duck tape around the rim of the day hatch, I've reduced water intake considerably. Might glue on some rubber from a bicycle tire inner. Fixing a wave deflector in front of front hatch (using bicycle tire tube) helped a lot on my previous kayak. Cheers.
Thanks for responding kayakcountry. Duct tape is an interesting thought although getting anything to stick to PE is a challenge. One of my solutions was to cut out a round "washer" from neoprene which sat under the rim of the hatch with the edge of the hatch lid sitting tight on top. Worked OK for a while but found the pressure caused indentations in the neoprene which created leaky spaces. My next solution is to do a similar thing but this time using rubber car door seal to sit around the underside of the rim connecting with the bottom of the hatch lid. Bit like your idea of the bicycle tyre inner tube. Waiting on delivery of the seal from China to try this. Cross fingers!! Happy paddles....Peter
Honest review and a game changer for me I’m going for a perception expression 15 Dlx many thanks
Excellent review. Thank you.
Good report, I do own the Scorpio MV in PE - version.
Could the leaking of the day hatch be fixed by using a softer rubber cover from Kajak Sport?
As it seems to me the material of the day hatch is much harder than the other covers.
P & H sent me a rubber one under the warranty, and it is definitely better. Duck tape around the rim helps to create tighter fit, & will glue on something more permanent. Bad mold job I think.
Thank's for lighning fast response!
Me too, I already got a real rubber dayhatch cover from them for free! Thumbs up!
both mine and the wifes mk2 scorpio day hatch leaked.. replaced by them no problem....
Update from Qld. I seem to have solved my hatch leak issue with of all things, a simple rubbish bag. I just cut the oval shape out with enough overlay to ensure the hatch cover fitted easily. Sure, there was a little of the green plastic garbage bag visible under the hatch lid, but who cares on the water. I've yet to try a similar fix to my main problem, the gay hatch but I'm confident it will also work. I've found an appropriate size ziplock clear bag in the kitchen and have placed it in the hatch for a try out next time on water. I used the green garbage bag on 4 sessions in the surf a few weeks ago with plenty of rolling as well and not a drop found in the hatch at the end of each session. Very exciting. I have a small video of the session I speak of on UA-cam which I compiled for my paddle buddies. If you are interested here is the link ua-cam.com/video/am-9LJShEgQ/v-deo.html to paste in to your browser.
As you can see, it was a good test for a garbage bag. Happy days.....Peter
It is amazing what a plastic bag can do! Folded up, they work well for boots too when a blister appears.
Hi, another question: How did you adjust your tigh/legpads? In my Scorpio they're actually near middle on my tighs, with about 2 - 3cm towards my knees.
When shoring up my legs on the pads and footrests, my knees are touching the cockpits roof. Paddling yesterday my knees felt bad after miles and I also think that
my knees better don't touch the cockpit? Would this also help for better stability?
There is no adjustment I know of. The brace position is not that good for me. It sounds like you need a bigger boat!
add a little bite of oil to loosen it up .
Did you find a solution for the skeg control? I am currently considering the Scorpio HV, so I found your review very helpful.
Replacement slider sent by P & H, which is OK.
Replace plastic day hatch cover with a 20 cm rubber hatch cover problem solved
Actually P&H sent me that very thing, it still leaked. I decided to replace the whole boat!
Do you know if this was fixed on the mk 2?
That boat is a Mark2
Seems like they should have used a rubber gasket on the batch covers.
Ah yes. My plan is to glue on a bicycle inner tube around the rim. Must get around to doing that before the duck tape comes off!
must be a leak from somewhere else into that back day hatch.
Nope, just good old P&H workmanship. Sadly.
@ 5:00 - "That is shockingly bad!" ... I thought you were gonna use another word that rhymes with "bright." 😀 Would be totally proper for a Scotsman imo.
yep, would be appropriate
Oh, forgot to ask....where is that location - or should it be kept a secret???
Think that was down Loch Arkaig
Did P&H come back to you? Have you solved the day hatch issue? You might try some "mold release agent" witch i used succesfully on lots of issues with plastic and rubber.
They offered to fix it - if I returned the kayak AT MY EXPENSE. Imagine that attitude from a car manufacturer with a car safety issue!
'Temporary' repair with glued rubber & tape still in place, seems ok for now. Thanks for the tip.
kayakcountry , Thanks for your reply. Sad to hear this. I had a issue with my old Prijon, just needed to get it to the dealer 36km away he send it back tp Prijon.
Im thinking of buying a Seakajak and the Scorpio was in the Top 3, besides the Widerness Tempest ant the Prijon Seayak. It shoud outperform the Seayak, and be as tough as a Prijon.
Where are you my friend.
Still alive but my cameras keep on dying!
Glad to hear it,thought you'd been taken out.
I really appreciated your sanity and intelligence at the start of the takedown.
You really helped.
Cheers.
So basically it's JUNK. Kayaks are not that complicated everything should work properly. Leaking hatch and crap skeg control are they kidding? Puts me off trying any P&H product.
You need to try other kayaks.
Maybe I got a lemon kayak lol. Already switched to Valley.