Old Town Sportsman scupper plugs

Any Sportsman owners out there? My wife’s didn’t come with scupper plugs like my Predator did, and I’m wondering why not. The shop owner where it was purchased said that Sportsman’s don’t ship with plugs. Seems odd. Anyway, I purchased the same plugs I have for her and one fits well, others seem to fit halfway in, and others clearly are not fitting at all. Anyone else have similar issues?

Ted

Any Sportsman owners out there? My wife’s didn’t come with scupper plugs like my Predator did, and I’m wondering why not. The shop owner where it was purchased said that Sportsman’s don’t ship with plugs. Seems odd. Anyway, I purchased the same plugs I have for her and one fits well, others seem to fit halfway in, and others clearly are not fitting at all. Anyone else have similar issues?

Ted

Hey Ted unfortunately The scuppers in the front are a different size. Change the Orings  to 1 1/4"x1"x1/8" "O" rings

It should fit properly after that.

Just out of curiosity, why are you installing supper plugs?

Mark

I'm thinking about putting plugs in. I lost a 3.5 spinner setup I was about to clip on. Just happened to fall right through the scupper hole by my feet.

Interested to hear how the o ring change goes.

I guess I thought I needed them based on the fact that they came with the Predator. I haven’t been fishing in them long enough to have experienced options either way. Just though it a pretty poor design to have different size scuppers on the same boat. Since I’ve purchased them, I’ll get new o-rings for them and it sounds like that should solve it - thanks for the replies, and I’ll let you know how the new o-rings fit.

You want to make sure if water gets in that it has a way to get back out again... I wouldn't plug up too many of the scuppers.

The purpose of scupper holes is to let water drain out of the cockpit, seat area, and rear cargo area of a sit-on-top kayak.  I suspect that if you did a poll of experienced sit-on-top kayak owners, 99 percent of them would say that they have never used scupper hole plugs, and wouldn't use them if they were given them for free.  I'm one of that 99 percent.

You want to make sure if water gets in that it has a way to get back out again... I wouldn't plug up too many of the scuppers.

They are one way plugs. Water can still drain out through them.

You want to make sure if water gets in that it has a way to get back out again... I wouldn't plug up too many of the scuppers.

They are one way plugs. Water can still drain out through them.

Does the water come up through the scuppers that much that you need plugs for in them?

You want to make sure if water gets in that it has a way to get back out again... I wouldn't plug up too many of the scuppers.

They are one way plugs. Water can still drain out through them.

Does the water come up through the scuppers that much that you need plugs for in them?

Not in my experience unless the kayak is over weighted or you are in some rough conditions.

Or if you're me and are comically klutzy when you hop onboard...

So, in addition to your helpful comments I thought I’d reach out to a Florida fishing guide who has used Old Town kayaks for years. He said he never uses scupper plugs (or valves), even if they come with them. He said if you take a lot of water in, you want a lot of water to get out - quickly. Some of you others expressed the same concern. And the valves tend to get clogged up with sand and dried fish blood. Easy for him to say...
So I’m going without and see how I like it.