This can help you get rid of any water that might come onto your deck or into your cockpit. The bilge pump can help get rid of most of the water while the sponge can help you get rid of the smaller amounts. Now you know what scupper plugs are you should be able to decide if they might be useful for your next paddling trip. Keep in mind that your sit-on-top yak has an open deck that is designed to be self-bailing. But scupper plugs can help stop some of the water from coming into your vessel from underneath.
Get kayak updates, guides, tips, gear reviews and offers sent straight to your inbox! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Great summary explanation! You might want to keep one or two scupper holes open to provide the perfect balance of drainage and a dry deck or you can remove one as needed, use a few scupper valves, use a bilge pump , or a sponge to get rid of excess water.
Do you need scupper plugs in warmer weather? Not at all. Most of us like getting a little wet when kayaking. Can you use a kayak without scupper plugs in colder weather? Yes, you can use your kayak without scupper plugs in colder weather but be sure to wear the right clothes like one of these drysuits over at Backcountry. How do you install scupper plugs? All you have to do is push these pliable rubber plugs in the scupper holes. Make sure you have the right size though.
Are scupper plugs universal? Yes and No. Scupper holes come in different sizes and shapes. The holes in some kayaks are all the same size and other kayaks have scupper holes that vary in size and shape. Scupper holes intend to drain out water that comes into the kayak as a result of the rapid movement of the ocean. Due to these holes, the water keeps running back to the source and does not turn the kayak deck into a pool.
A question that may arise in your mind is whether we should plug the holes or keep them open. In short, we must acknowledge the factors first that make plugs advantageous or risky, and then decide if we should use them or not. In such situations, scupper plugs play their part. These are rubber- or silicone-made plugs that fit into the hole openings and stop the intrusion or flow of water into or out of the kayak, respectively.
You need not worry about the holes as these are absolutely normal; rather, they are necessary for a kayak. Nearly every sit-on-top kayak is equipped with four or more holes distributed at some distance on its floor.
These are generally known as scupper holes and are deliberately included in the construction of this equipment for some solid purpose.
Kayaking can not be done without exposure to water. All we can do is minimize the intrusion of water by closing the bottom channels or holes and wearing waterproof and warm clothing.
Upon plugging the scupper holes, freezing water can be prevented from wetting your feet or lower body. So, to make kayaking pleasant in winters, we should use scupper plugs. It is strictly prohibited to exceed the load limit of boats. But avid kayakers ignore this precautionary fact and load more weight than it is recommended. In that case, the buoyancy of the equipment is greatly influenced. As a consequence, it becomes difficult for the hull to propagate at a regular pace.
By installing scupper plugs, this issue is taken care of before it develops into anything major. Although scupper plugs may be the ideal choice for adverse paddling conditions, they are of little use in flat water conditions.
This is because the chances of water coming up from belowdecks are minimal at best in calm waters. This way, any water that does find its way into the boat can drain properly. Trust me; cold puddles of water brushing against your legs for an entire paddling trip is not an ideal experience. So it would be in your best interest to free up the scupper holes and let them do their job. If you find that water levels are uncomfortably high in your kayak, the bilge pump is a must-have for your next kayaking trip.
Just know that electric bilge pumps come at a noticeably higher price tag! If investing in a bilge pump seems like overkill, you may want to consider a simple absorbent sponge to remove excess water from your kayak.
These sponges are not your typical dish sponge. Instead, you can devote that time to doing what you love… kayaking! So now that you know these scupper holes are nothing to worry about, get out there and paddle!
I am the owner of HydroPursuit. I enjoy kicking back and getting out on the water as much as I can in my free time. Nothing sounds better than a relaxing day at the beach with your family. However, before you sink your toes into the sand, you may wonder if your children are too young for the beach.
Sometimes, a trip to the pool is what you need on a hot summer day or during a dull winter afternoon. Of course, swimming is never a bad idea.
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