Compass Rectangular Hatch Install

Question for all you Compass owners out there. I have a 2021 Compass with the stock circular hatch between the kayaker's legs. Like many Compass owners, I want to replace the circular hatch with a rectangular hatch, so I purchased the "vertically-oriented" rectangle hatch. It is supposed to be installed such that the long sides of the rectangle run "north-south" (bow to stern). The hatch door hinges at the "top" (the side closest to the pedal drive). I think this is the way the Outback's included rectangle hatch is situated.

I took the new rectangle hatch out of the box and, just eyeballing it, I am questioning whether it will fit in my Compass. It is not so much the space above deck, but the space below deck that concerns me.  There are two scuppers near the front edge of the seat, with below-deck posts.  Then the pedal drive well has below-deck walls too. I question whether the below-deck hardware for the vertically-oriented hatch will fit between the below-deck architecture of the aforementioned scuppers and drive well. The below-deck hardware might be too long.

If you browse the Hobie aftermarket installation videos, they install the rectangle hatch in a horizontal orientation, which is a different product than the one I have (the hinges for the hatch door would be on the "long" side of the rectangle). 

Any thoughts? Has anyone successfully installed the vertically-oriented rectangle hatch on the Compass? Do I need to exchange the vertically-oriented rectangle hatch for the horizontally-oriented one? The Compass is a bit shorter than the Outback so it is not a given that the hatch will fit. Obviously, I would like to know if this works before I start cutting a big old rectangle in my deck.

Many thanks, team.

After watching more Youtube, this doesn't seem to be a problem on the 2019 Compass.  The 2019 Compass does not have the two scuppers where I described above. There must've been a redesign in 2020 or 2021. 

This is a great thread. A question by me, a clarification post by me, and now the answer by me.

I just got off the phone with the head installer at Kayak City. He confirmed that the vertically-oriented rectangle hatch won't fit on the 2021 Compass. You need the horizontal rectangle hatch.

If a poster starts a thread in the forest and no one responds but himself, does the thread exist? 

“If a poster starts a thread in the forest and no one responds but himself, does the thread exist?  ”

Yes, but it may be that nobody else has been down that path?

I purchased my 2021 Compass pre-owned. The original owner had installed the horizontal rectangle hatch. He ran into issues with the depth of the liner being taller than the interior space of the hull. He cleverly fixed this issue with a soldering iron. If interested, I can post pics tonight when back at my boat.

I purchased my 2021 Compass pre-owned. The original owner had installed the horizontal rectangle hatch. He ran into issues with the depth of the liner being taller than the interior space of the hull. He cleverly fixed this issue with a soldering iron. If interested, I can post pics tonight when back at my boat.

You are the second person who has told me this could be an issue.  I would be interested in seeing the photos. Thank you!