How do you fix a leaky kayak scupper plug?

Do you have leaky scupper plugs? We may be able to help. Today we will cover some common causes and offer up some solutions to fight nuisance water in your kayak.

The first thing to figure out is where is the water coming from. The best way to uncover this mystery is stop paddling and start looking around for the source of the water. A surprising amount of water comes into the kayak simply from paddling and water splashing. By simply sitting still you can eliminate the primary cause of a water-logged kayak. If the water is not accumulating then there is a good chance you are simply seeing splashed water coming in.

Next you want to look around the scupper holes that are plugged and try to uncover how the water is coming in. If you see water coming up around the sides of the scupper plug it is a good indication that the seal is not as good as it should be. Be sure the plug is installed tight and not too easy to remove. If it comes out too easy it may not be tight enough. If the plug seems tight you may want to look it over to see if debris or anything is interfering with the seal. Flushing the plug off in the water may be enough to clean the plug and re-establish a good seal.

Another common cause of a leak is a slightly out-of-round scupper hole that occurs during the kayak molding process. Remember a scupper hole is designed to allow the free flow of water in and out of the kayak and by definition it only needs to be a functional hole to achieve this. When it comes time to plug that hole, a misshaped or uneven scupper wall can prevent a plug from sealing. Often the best solution to this issue is soften the plug to become more pliable to form to the shape of the scupper hole. Our plugs can be softened very easily by allowing them to sit in the sun and heat up. Once warm, the rubber becomes much softer and will conform better to the scupper hole.

So what if you find you have a tight fitting scupper plug that is clean and properly fitted to the scupper hole and it still leaks? There is one last thing to try and that is a compression plug. These plugs install like standard scupper plugs but have the additional feature of expanding once in place to form a super tight seal. We recommend them just for these problem scupper holes where no other solution seems to work. If you find yourself with a leaking plug that just will not quit, these specialty plugs just may be the answer.