Best Scupper Plugs of 2020

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Kayaking is one of the most popular water sports in North America. Whether you’re an athlete that’s looking for top-of-the-line equipment that will help with their performance or a hobbyist that’s basking in the natural beauty of the bodies of water in the American countryside, having a scupper plug for your kayak is paramount in keeping your kayak in good condition. Although not used all the time, scupper plugs are handy if you want to have a comfortable and dry experience when kayaking. 

Sit-on-top (SOT) kayaks are a form of kayak that’s getting more popular as time goes by. People are phasing out their sit-inside (SIS) kayaks with their SOT kayaks since there’s no ‘inside’ which makes it more accessible. In warmer states, SOT kayaks are one of the most popular kayaks since it’s cooler. However, Sit-on-top kayaks also have scupper holes that are designed to drain water from your ride. Although scupper holes can keep water off your kayak, it can also be an entryway for water which can cause discomfort for most paddlers. 

So what’s one of the best ways of keeping yourself dry when you’re kayaking? 

Scupper plugs are one of the best ways of keeping water off your kayak. But what are scupper plugs used for? What are some of the best qualities that we should look out for when getting a scupper plug? We’ll be guiding you in your search for a good scupper plug.

As the name suggests, these plugs are designed to stop water from entering the scupper holes of your kayaks. Even though scupper holes have been designed to drain water, this can also be a way for water to get into your kayak. The last thing that you want is water stagnating inside your kayak which can compromise the buoyancy of your boat. Additionally, keeping yourself dry on a kayak can ease any discomfort when water seeps into your clothing and your kayaking shoes.

Moreover, when you’re on a sit on top kayak, there’s less protection from the elements on the upper portion of the kayak. Compared to Sit-inside kayaks that have a protective upper portion that stops splashes and waves from getting inside your boat, sit on top kayaks don’t have that luxury which makes sense on why SOT kayaks have to scupper holes. However, not all bodies of water in North America will be rough; most of the time, you’ll be deep and open water and you won’t have to deal with rough waves and splashes. 

When the water is calm and you won’t be facing strong waves any time soon, then having a scupper plug is highly recommended. When water doesn’t get inside your kayak’s cockpit, having scupper plugs will help increase the speed and performance of your kayak. 

However, people who kayak need to be aware that when you’re mounting scupper plugs on your boat’s holes, you are also trapping them inside your kayak. It’s best to keep this in mind when choosing you should be using your plugs. 

As the name suggests, these plugs are designed to stop water from entering the scupper holes of your kayaks. Even though scupper holes have been designed to drain water, this can also be a way for water to get into your kayak. The last thing that you want is water stagnating inside your kayak which can compromise the buoyancy of your boat. Additionally, keeping yourself dry on a kayak can ease any discomfort when water seeps into your clothing and your kayaking shoes.

To keep the long story short: No, not all kayaks use scupper plugs, but it is recommended that you keep some when you’re using a sit on top kayak. Sit inside kayaks don’t necessarily need scupper holes since the upper portion of the kayak has a protective ‘cockpit’ that sheds water off your kayak. Scupper plugs are also a good way of getting overwashed water back out of your boat.

Sit on top kayaks have at least one or two parts of the vessel that are sealed off from water which makes only the cockpit vulnerable to water. 

Although marketed as something that’s waterproof, scupper plugs will still let in a bit of water. You won’t have to worry about your kayak sinking since kayaks are made out of buoyant and extremely durable materials. Although a small amount of water pooling on your kayak might not be a problem, it can still accumulate. When a good amount of water gets trapped inside your kayak, this can slow down your kayak and make it heavier. 

But just like any vigorous activity that you’re partaking in, it’s always recommended that you check your kayak if the plugs and the holes are in the right condition; this will mitigate any future damages to your kayak.

When mounting scupper plugs to your kayak, you will see that there is a seam with 2 pieces of metal being fastened together. This can become a possible entryway for water depending on the quality of the materials used for the kayak.

Before mounting your scupper plugs, it’s best to look at the exterior of your kayak if there are any superficial damage and punctures to the hull. 

Before you get feet wet with your kayak, it’s recommended that you first test out your scupper plugs for leaks. A good practice that most kayak enthusiasts do is that they fill their boat with water while it’s on dry land. You’ll be able to determine any signs of leakage close to your plugs when water will start to seep through. It’s also recommended that you look outside and underneath the kayak so you can see any other leaks that might not be from the plug. This is considered by many as the best way to know any forms of damages on your kayak while saving you tons of time.

Whether you like it or not, you’re bound to get wet when you’re on your kayak. At the end of the day, you’ll need to get out of the kayak to drag it to dry land. Additionally, there will be instances that the weather won’t be cooperating and so you will have to expect water to get inside your kayak’s interiors. There is a wide variety of ways in keeping your kayak dry and disposing excess water from your kayak. However, these methods are not guaranteed to be 100% waterproof.

First, you can simply use a pail to scoop up water and then remove it out of your kayak. Although this isn’t the most effective way of removing water from your cockpit, it will help lighten a load of your boat long enough for you to get to dry land. 

Secondly, another way of removing water from your kayak is through a heavy-duty sponge. Sponges are one of the best ways of soaking water from your kayak since it’s cheap, can help clean hard-to-reach places, and easily replaceable. The only drawback to sponges is that it can mold if you’re not drying them up. 

Thirdly, you can use a bilge pump to remove water. This simple device will let you pump water out of your vessel by pumping it up and down. You can easily buy this from a store that sells tools or equipment for kayaks for around 30 dollars. The price of the bilge pump will depend on the quality of the product.

Finally, a drain plug can also be used to drain water off your kayak. This is especially important on sit-in kayaks since these won’t have any scupper holes to naturally drain the water. Some sit on top kayaks will have drain plugs just in case water will get into enclosed compartments of the kayak. If a pail or a bilge pump won’t be able to dispose of the water faster, then a drain plug is the final resort in making sure that your kayak won’t be overburdened by water. 

Kayakers have to remember that having water inside your kayak is perfectly normal. Water will always find a way inside your kayak whether you’re in calm or turbulent waters. As long as the amount of water is not large enough and won’t be impeding the performance of you and your kayak, then there’s no need to panic. Having a moist puddle on your kayak can be uncomfortable for your feet or shoes, but this will ultimately be negligible. 

Pook noodles are one of the cheaper ways of plugging leaks on your kayak. It might look like it’s going to soak water, but it’s a good waterproof alternative that also has buoyant characteristics. This can serve as a temporary plug for your kayak but shouldn’t be used as a permanent solution. Moreover, it’s highly recommended that you use a scupper plug if you’re going to use your kayak for competitive events.

If you’re going to be using your kayak for sporting events, it is recommended to use a scupper plug instead of a makeshift plug in the form of a pool noodle. Pool noodles will be able to hold out temporarily, but it won’t guarantee you that water won’t be able to get inside your kayak’s hull. 

Much of the kayaking community have been using rubber corks as an alternative to scupper plugs. Corks are known for their buoyant characteristics while also keeping water away from your kayak’s interiors. The durable and flexible material used for these corks makes it a good alternative to scupper plugs.

However, it is always a good choice to use equipment that has been designed for their function. These alternatives might be able to do this in the short-term, but it will eventually crack and wear out from the stress. 

Although not necessarily an ‘alternative’, scupper valves are one of the better forms of scupper plugs that you can find in any sporting store. Compared to your regular scupper plug that will trap water inside your kayak, scupper valves are able to let the water out on the bottom part of the valve while also keeping the water from entering. 

Even though there will be a multitude of factors that you’ll need to weigh-in, it will all boil down to your personal preference when choosing the right scupper plug. In most cases, higher quality kayaks will have their own built-in scupper plugs. However, cheaper models of kayaks will mean that you’ll have to purchase your own.

Just like every other material in the kayak industry, the quality of the product will also dictate the price of the plugs. The cheapest plugs will cost around $1 - $5, while the higher quality ones will cost around $20. 

Here are some features of a scupper plug that you have to take into account:

First and foremost, having a durable scupper plug will help mitigate any future leakages to your kayak. It’s best to get one that has high tensile strength, flexible and can withstand impacts from rocks and solid surfaces.

Scupper plugs are also made with a variety of different materials, with some being made with plastic, rubber, and stainless steel. Certain materials tend to expand and recede when exposed to fluctuating temperatures. If you have a metal plug, it’s going to recede when exposed to colder temperatures. A plug that’s more vulnerable to changes in temperature makes it more susceptible to leaks. Moreover, you’ll also have to do some research on whether your plugs are resistant to rusting and impacts. 

Although certain scupper plugs are cheap and can be easily replaced in the market, there are also some high-quality designs that have a heftier price than the low-quality ones. Higher quality scupper plugs will last longer since they tend to be designed in the long-term for competitive sporting events.

Not a lot of people look at the warranty of scupper plugs, but they do give you a good impression of how long the product will last. If a scupper plug will have a warranty that will last the product’s lifespan, then that means that the manufacturers are confident of the durability of the plugs. 

Even though these factors will play an important part in keeping you and your kayak’s interiors dry, it will ultimately boil down to how it will fit your kayak. Each scupper plug will have a unique size which means that some will fit while others won’t fit at all.

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