Why Do Kayaks Have Scupper Holes?
Many kayak owners have a question: Why do kayaks have scupper holes? The answer may surprise you! They’re not there just to drain excess water. In fact, the holes are designed to keep water inside the kayak and prevent the kayak from sinking. In this article, we’ll explain why scupper holes are important and why you might want to use one in your kayak. fly fishing kayaks
A scupper hole allows water to drain from the boat in two ways. First, water can drain from the cockpit but cannot drain out of the rest of the kayak. If this happens, you can use a bilge pump to remove the water, or a sponge to wipe it away. If you find that water is coming out too quickly, it means you have too much weight inside the kayak. In that case, it’s time to take everything out and buy a kayak with a higher load capacity.
Another reason why kayaks have scupper holes is to improve drainage. Despite being a light vessel floating on water, kayaks can easily fill with water. This water can weigh down the kayak, and you may have to compensate for it. If this happens, you might end up reducing the length of your trip, or worse, have to abandon it early. That’s why kayaks have scupper holes.
The scupper hole allows you to release excess air from the cockpit, preventing you from being capsized while on the water. At the same time, it prevents water from getting inside the kayak, which could lead to a shaky ride. With a scupper hole, you can also plug up the scupper hole in your kayak to prevent water from coming in.
While scupper plugs can prevent water from entering the kayak, they are not necessary. The main purpose of a scupper hole is to balance the dryness of the deck and drainage. Excess water in a kayak can compromise the performance of the paddler. Therefore, using a scupper plug will make your kayak more comfortable in all weather conditions. But you should always make sure that you are fully tightening the scupper plug.
When kayaks have scupper holes, they serve two purposes. First, they act as drain holes. When water seeps into your kayak, it pushes water down. This results in puddles in a few minutes. Second, they make the kayak feel as full as it does outside. And, of course, you don’t want to have the same experience if you flip over and are completely underwater!
Some kayakers have confused questions about why their kayaks have scupper holes. In fact, some kayaks have no scupper holes at all. This is because sit-on-top kayaks have an open water drainage system, while sit-inside kayaks are enclosed inside, which keeps water out. Nevertheless, scupper holes are very helpful in sit-inside kayaks, which are not as common.