: Now that I have the scupper hole answered - and I thank you all for the
: responses, I need to install 2 rope grip in the nose and back of the Kayak
: so I can tie it off at a dock or securing it to my car for transporting.
: Is there a kit or a method to installing these ropes. I know most of the
: time these are molded into the boat but not mine. I just hate to have to
: drill 2 more holes in this thing without having the proper material. I was
: thinking of going to a plumbing supply shop to see what they have BUT I
: thought it best to ask this forum for help.
: Thanks again
: Uncle Vito

I drilled a 1 1/4" hole in my kayak with a Forstner bit and a LOT of patient drilling (I know this sounds BIG). Then I made a wooden pipe for it similar to what Ross did with the plastic pipe only out of pine.

When I drilled the hole I first made a really small pilot hole from each side and aimed the holes at each other. Then I cleaned them up slightly larger to be one straight hole. The problem is that the Forstner bit doesn't have a very big pilot tip on the end to follow the hole easily if it gets very big. Be very careful when drilling through your kayak (do I really need to tell you that, probably not).

Since I haven't set up my lathe yet, I just made the pipe on the table saw. I took 2 pieces of 3/4 " stock and epoxied them together and cut it so it would be 1.5 x 1.5 x length required to fit through the kayak and more. I drew a 1.25" diameter circle on the end and started cutting it down to just shy of the line (I wanted a tight fit). I cut the block at 45 degrees to make an octogon out of it, then at 22.5 degrees to make it 16 sided. Once it was 16 sided, I just knocked of the edges with some sand paper and cleaned it up for a nice fit.

I used a 7/8" forstner bit to drill a hole down the center to make it into a pipe. I epoxied the pipe into the kayak.

Once the epoxy cured I cut off the ends and rounded the edges of the pipe so it would have a smooth corner. Then I epoxied it inside.

This 7/8 inside hole actually looks good with a 1/4" diameter rope through it, plus I can put my 1/2" diameter bicycle cable lock through it if I want to lock it up.