So I decided to cut some holes in my new 1500 dollar kayak!

Ok, so I just installed the square hatch on my Outback.
So far I think its a great mod. It gives so much more access and beefs up the deck due to the sturdy hatch surround. I mounted it port to starboard so the hatch opens forward. Despite researching whether the rectangular bucket will fit a 2016 Outback, (consensus is it will). Well, it wont. The edges on the bucket hit on the bottom where the tri hull valleys rise up inside the hull. It holds the bucket up about 1/2" too high for the lid to close.
Question: Has anyone successfully modified the edges of the bucket to make it fit better?

Ok, so I just installed the square hatch on my Outback.
So far I think its a great mod. It gives so much more access and beefs up the deck due to the sturdy hatch surround. I mounted it port to starboard so the hatch opens forward. Despite researching whether the rectangular bucket will fit a 2016 Outback, (consensus is it will). Well, it wont. The edges on the bucket hit on the bottom where the tri hull valleys rise up inside the hull. It holds the bucket up about 1/2" too high for the lid to close.
Question: Has anyone successfully modified the edges of the bucket to make it fit better?

My only point of reference is my wife's 2016 Outback LE (which comes with the rectangular hatch stock). On that boat the rectangular bucket works fine. Maybe there are (slightly) different versions of the rectangular bucket? I'm surprised it isn't working.

I installed the rectangular hatch in my 2015 Outback which I think is the same as the 2016.  I use the bucket all the time and it works great.  My bucket is just under five inches tall.  Is that the same as you have?

Ok, so I just installed the square hatch on my Outback.
So far I think its a great mod. It gives so much more access and beefs up the deck due to the sturdy hatch surround. I mounted it port to starboard so the hatch opens forward. Despite researching whether the rectangular bucket will fit a 2016 Outback, (consensus is it will). Well, it wont. The edges on the bucket hit on the bottom where the tri hull valleys rise up inside the hull. It holds the bucket up about 1/2" too high for the lid to close.
Question: Has anyone successfully modified the edges of the bucket to make it fit better?

My only point of reference is my wife's 2016 Outback LE (which comes with the rectangular hatch stock). On that boat the rectangular bucket works fine. Maybe there are (slightly) different versions of the rectangular bucket? I'm surprised it isn't working.

Ok. I am going to try and view it from the inside using a mirror or slide a go pro in and put the hatch in so I can see where it is contacting. I tried to make sure it was placed dead center but maybe it is off enough to make contact on the hull.

I installed the rectangular hatch in my 2015 Outback which I think is the same as the 2016.  I use the bucket all the time and it works great.  My bucket is just under five inches.  Is that the same as you have?

Its 5". Im going to try and photo it from inside the hull in the morning.

I can measure hers tonight too if it helps.

One way or another I'm sure you can mod the bucket to make it fit. I just wanted to make sure that something else wasn't going on, like something down in the hull that isn't supposed to be there.

I can measure hers tonight too if it helps.

One way or another I'm sure you can mod the bucket to make it fit. I just wanted to make sure that something else wasn't going on, like something down in the hull that isn't supposed to be there.

Thanks Captain. I think my install is a bit off to the right. If so I will trim the bucket on one side to fit. I think I can do it without compromising its integrity. So prob operator malfunction. Duh. I'm going to get another view with my Gopro in the am to confirm.

How about a heat gun. And try forming it to fit.

How about a heat gun. And try forming it to fit.

Good idea. I'm going to try that on Friday. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks.

Ok so I messed up my instal. I was out 1/8” to one side and consequently the rectangular bucket insert contacts the hull on one side so the lid wont close without force. My remedy will be judicial use of the trusty heat gun on one edge of the bottom of the bucket. My reason for exposing myself to ridicule is in order to eliminate ridicule for others. Haha. Cabin fever strikes the mind of this writer. Sorry about that.
I knew the placement of the hatch was very important, but 1/8” off! Well actually YES. I think I made the mistake of measuring from the side decks and other areas of the deck. Which are perhaps not constant in shape and dimension from one side to the other. I’m thinking that if I simply used the hole as my point of reference to measure from I would have been better off. Assuming it was accurately located in the first place.

Bottom line is that there is absolutely no room for error when installing the hatch port to starboard if you want to use the drop in bucket. Possibly also the Tackle Management Rack. Installing it front to back may not be as critical.
Here are the 2 halves of the deck that I cut out.

Bottom line is that there is absolutely no room for error when installing the hatch port to starboard if you want to use the drop in bucket.

Just curious, was dropping in the rectangular hatch frame a pretty tight fit or could it have had a little slack on one side.  Then when it was screwed in just happened to be tight to the side where the problem is, compounding the problem?

If not, I am surprised I was that lucky to hit it exact when I did mine.

Bottom line is that there is absolutely no room for error when installing the hatch port to starboard if you want to use the drop in bucket.

Just curious, was dropping in the rectangular hatch frame a pretty tight fit or could it have had a little slack on one side.  Then when it was screwed in just happened to be tight to the side where the problem is, compounding the problem?

If not, I am surprised I was that lucky to hit it exact when I did mine.

It was fairly tight but if you add any amount of slack to  my slightly offset cut out it may have been just enough to put it far too far over.
So you probably were skilled enough to get it dead center.

I'm preparing to do this myself and have watched several instructional videos.

There is a good tip in this one at 1:23:

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Thanks for the link. I watched a few vids as well, not this one though. He has a nice install. My only concern is that using the nail in the old hatch screw hole gives a straight cut along the front edge and a larger piece of the old circular cut out over the back edge of the flange and I was worried that it wouldn't seal the water out as well. What do you think?

Man, I almost convinced myself to do this upgrade then I read this post...  NOPE!

Man, I almost convinced myself to do this upgrade then I read this post...  NOPE!

Hey Ray. Don't let my failure put you off. I still think its a great mod. Just be careful marking out the location. Even using it just for access to the hull makes it worthwhile but with minor mods to the bucket I can still make it work. That 8" round hatch was so hard to use that space to its maximum benefit.