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A few tips on how to store your kayak

Publicerad: 2010.01.01 Uppdaterad: 2013.03.08 Av: Caroline Nilsson
Storing your kayak correctly can add years to its life. The keys to proper storage? Protecting your kayak from the sun, the weather, theft and hull damage.
NOTE: The longer you store your craft, the more important proper storage technique becomes.

Protecting against the sun
Sunlight can degrade just about any kayak hull material, from fiberglass to plastic to coated fabric. The best way to protect against sun damage is to store your boat inside. When that's not possible, be sure to store your boat in a shaded spot.

If shaded spots are hard to come by, protect your kayak under a tarp or cover of some kind. Make sure the tarp is tough and weather-resistant, and rig it so it's suspended above the hull (contact with the hull may promote mold or fungal growth in wet conditions). Angle the tarp so that rain water and/or snow can run off to one side. Also make sure your entire kayak is covered no matter where the sun is in the sky.

A note on protective coatings
Spray-on protective coatings are available to help you bulk up UV protection on your kayak hull. Sprays like 303 UV Protectant can be applied to fiberglass boats to add significantly to your boat's from-the-factory protection. Apply a generous coating at the beginning of each season and prior to storing your boat for any long period of time.

Protecting against the weather
Prolonged exposure to weather can cause some hull materials to oxidize and/or degrade. Storing your kayak indoors will protect it from most weather-related threats (with the exception of extreme cold - see below). But if you store your boat outside, make sure your protective shade tarp also protects your kayak from precipitation. Also be sure that rain and/or snow can't collect in the tarp and press down on your kayak hull.

Prolonged exposure to cold will not harm Point 65 N kayaks - as long as the kayak is stored so that is kept dry.

If you store your boat outside or in an unheated building, also be aware that repeated freezing and thawing can cause damage to fiberglass boats if water has seeped into seams, joints or cracks in the hull, it will expand and contract. To avoid this type of problem, inspect your boat carefully for signs of damage prior to storage, then repair as necessary.

Protecting against theft
The best way to protect your kayak against theft is to store it inside. If you store your boat outdoors, keep it hidden from view as much as possible and position it so that it's difficult for a thief to grab it quickly and run.

In high crime areas, thread a durable security cable through a sturdy part of the boat (like a wire grab loop) and connect it to a post, fence or building. It won't stop every thief, but it will deter many.

Protecting against hull damage
Most kayak hulls will deform or bend over time if exposed to uneven weight distribution. Plastic and fabric hulls are the most susceptible to damage, but fiberglass and wood-hulled boats can also fall victim.

The key to avoiding hull damage is to spread out the weight of the kayak over its entire length whenever you store it. This means supporting the boat at several points along its length, using padded cradles, angled surfaces and/or wide, nylon straps that match the curve of the hull. Practices to avoid include:
- Supporting your kayak from its ends only
- Standing it up on one end in the corner of your garage
- Hanging it from its grab loops
- Laying it down on its side on a flat surface for long periods of time
Also keep in mind that excessive heat can encourage hull distortion. Avoid storing any kayak near a significant heat source like a furnace or a water heater.

Additional storage tips
- If you paddle in salt water, be sure to rinse your boat thoroughly with fresh water before you store it. Salt water can degrade hull materials and corrode metal parts.
- Treat your plastic or fiberglass kayak to a generous coating of UV protectant prior to any long storage. The protectant will shield the boat from sunlight and oxidation.
- To condition and protect folding boat materials prior to storage, follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
Point 65 Sweden
Headquarter:
Karlbergs Strand 4
SE-171 73 Solna, Sweden
Ph: +46 8 663 01 06
mail@point65.se