There are two basic types of scupper holes in a kayak: open ones and closed ones. Open ones are located at the top and are usually equipped with a drainage hole, while closed ones have a screen to keep water out. Some kayaks feature both kinds. Read on to learn more about these features. A kayak’s scupper hole may be important to you, or it may not.

Sit-inside kayaks

A sit-inside kayak offers protection for the lower body against wind and other elements, but it also doesn’t offer freedom to move around in the water. Some paddlers may be tempted to use this type of kayak, but it isn’t as fun as a traditional open-cockpit kayak. Instead, consider the kayak a vehicle that you can take out on the water and sit in.

A sit-inside kayak is usually equipped with holes in its bottom. These holes help to maintain the drainage system. If a kayak does not have holes, scupper plugs may be necessary to keep it dry. Otherwise, a kayak sponge may do. In such a case, a self-bailing kayak will automatically raise itself when the paddler gets wet, and a scupper plug can be inserted for a self-bailing kayak.

A scupper plug will help you to keep water out of your kayak when it rains. However, it may make it more difficult to bail the kayak out or re-enter the kayak after a spill. A scupper plug should be sized according to the size of the hull of the kayak. If it doesn’t fit properly, it might need to be widened a bit.

Sit-on-top kayaks

While most sit-on-top kayaks have holes in the bottom, they may still collect water when you paddle. To keep your kayak dry, invest in a self-bailing kayak. If the boat does not have scupper holes, use a pump or a sponge to raise it. Otherwise, you may have to sit on a wet towel. But in most cases, you will be able to paddle dry in a sit-on-top kayak.

While there is nothing dangerous about scupper holes, you should know that they help prevent the kayak from capsizing. These holes are necessary because they help water drain out of the kayak during a capsize in rough waters. While they are important, they can also make a kayak less stable when the water is sprayed up from below. It is therefore important to check the scupper holes of a sit-on-top kayak before you purchase one.

If your sit-on-top kayak has scupper holes in the deck, make sure to plug these holes. You don’t want to get stuck in a situation where water can pour into the cockpit and drown you. This can be prevented by purchasing scupper plugs. These plugs are either rubber or plastic and fit into the holes. Some of them are screwed in to prevent water from flowing up through them. They also come with a short string so that you can drain the water.

Sit-inside kayaks with scupper holes

There are two basic types of sit-inside kayaks: those with scupper holes and those without. The main difference between the two is the location of the scupper holes. If you prefer to keep your water tight, scupper holes allow you to do that. They also prevent water from accumulating on the bottom of the kayak, which improves its efficiency. However, if you want to remove the scupper hole, you may want to choose a model without one.

A scupper plug can prevent a vacuum from forming between the sitting area and ocean water. While some plugs can be pushed into the scupper holes, others are screwed in. In any case, they are easy to install and push into the scupper holes of sit-inside kayaks. Many of these plugs have strings to help you drain water from the kayak easily.

If your sit-inside kayak does not have scupper holes, you can either leave them open or use a bilge pump. A bilge pump can remove water without dislodging plugs, while a sponge can be cheap, easy to use, and is easy to replace. If you use a sponge, make sure that it is clean and dry to avoid mold.