Are the 4 screw-in plugs under the seat of the PA-14 supposed to stay screwed in while out on the water?...Are they drain plugs for use when the PA comes out of the water, or for use like scuppers when in the water? In other words...If I took the PA out in the ocean without the plugs screwed in, would water come up through the holes into the area under the seat, or would they act like scuppers and drain any water that came over the side and into the seat area?
I ask because recently while caught out on the Chesapeake Bay-Virginia, in high winds with +2ft. waves because of a faulty weather report, much water came in over the bow and sides of my PA. It performed well given those conditions, except that about 2 " of water collected in the area below the seat and in the connecting side compartments. The front end of the PA drained quickly because of the scuppers, and the interior hull stayed fairly dry (maybe a cup or two max. of water) considering the beating the PA and I took over a 2 hour span, but even though I was completely soaked and lost my radio, it was great fun with that unexpected test of my PA. Oh...And BTW...I got a chance to finally use the paddle for something other than pushing off pilings. The paddle really helped with keeping the PA turned into the wind to avoid being turtled
