Your kayak can get damaged if not stored or transported correctly. Learn the best methods and accessories to keep it safe from physical and weather damage when not in use or being moved.
Your kayak may seem thick and tough, but incorrectly storing or transporting it can quickly cause damage to accumulate. Physical forces and weather effects can both damage your kayak in different ways, which is why proper kayak storage and transportation are so important.
There are many different methods and accessories to keep your kayak safe while it’s being moved or stored away - let’s go through some of the best ones now so you can keep your kayak in pristine condition when it’s not in use or being moved.
The Importance Of Proper Kayak Storage
There’s more to proper kayak storage than just leaning it up against a wall and leaving it alone - while they are sturdy pieces of equipment, incorrect kayak storage can actually cause a lot of damage to your kayak. This means that when you go to get it out of storage for use, you may find a lot of unpleasant surprises you need to fix before you get on your way.
Improper kayak storage can cause scratches, dents and even holes in your hull. It can also weaken the integrity of your kayak, making it more likely to break in the future. Finally, a poorly stored kayak can attract insects and other small critters to make it their home - meaning a nasty shock to you when you pull it out to use!
Luckily, you can avoid all of these pitfalls by storing your kayak in any of the following ways.
The Best Ways To Store Your Kayak
Without a doubt, it’s always best to store your kayak undercover. Sun, frost and even rain can all cause damage to your kayak over time. The UV rays from sunlight will cause your kayak’s hull to fade and weaken, while excessive moisture from rain or frost may cause your kayak to become mouldy. Sitting water inside the kayak may also attract pests and increase the risk of damage later down the track.
On the other hand, don’t go too extreme when storing your kayak. You’ll want some airflow for your kayak, as being trapped in a hot, air-tight bubble can cause the temperature to spike and your plastic kayak’s hull to soften and warp. Airflow will also ensure any moisture evaporates and doesn’t stick around to turn into mould.
Before placing your kayak into indoor storage, make sure to give it a rinse down with clean, fresh water. You may like to wipe it down with a sponge and some mild soap, but make sure to rinse all of this off before storing. Keeping your kayak clean will prevent any stains from occurring and any harmful leftovers from causing moisture damage.
How To Choose The Right Kayak Storage Accessories
Once you have the perfect spot to store your kayak, it’s time to figure out the details. You can’t just plop your kayak on the ground or against a wall and be done with it - here are some of the best ways to secure your kayak in storage:
- On a sling or in straps - Suspending your kayak from a sling or straps is one of the gentlest ways to store it, and it is the best choice for long-term storage. You won’t need to worry about your kayak being pinched or damaged by these kayak accessories, which can happen more often if you’re hanging it from thicker cords. Make sure to hang your kayak on its side, as hanging it upright can create downward pressure that will cause the hull to deform over time.
- On a hanging rack - Sturdy kayak storage racks will keep your kayak secure, and many can be made to custom fit your brand of kayak. But even so, make sure that the kayak is stored on its side to avoid downward pressure, no matter what kind of kayak racks you own, and that any parts of the rack supporting the kayak are soft and padded to prevent them from damaging the kayak.
- On a mounted floor rack - If you have the space, a floor rack offers one of the easiest ways to store your kayak, as it will be easy to put in and get out when you need it. This method of storage is only suitable for kayaks with a wide area of contact, otherwise a narrower kayak will become distorted by even soft racks on the floor.
If you do not have any options for indoor storage, then it is best to protect your kayak with some sort of cover. Choose one that zips shut and is made from waterproof materials, as this will protect it from the weather while also keeping out insects and other creepy crawlies that may try to make your kayak their home.
Paddezone’s range of kayak storage products makes it easy to find the ideal storage supplies to suit your kayak.
The Importance Of Proper Kayak Transport
Unless you’re lucky enough to live right on a lake, river or by the beach, then you’ll need a safe way to transport your kayak from point A to B. If you set off with your kayak not attached and secured to your vehicle correctly, this not only increases the risk of kayak damage, but your kayak may even cause damage to others and their vehicles!
With that in mind, let’s discuss the best methods of safe transport for your kayak and ensure your kayak (and everyone else) arrives at their destination in one piece.
The Best Ways To Transport Your Kayak
Transport Your Kayak On Your Car
The most popular way to transport a kayak is on top of your car. Before you even attempt this, make sure to check the rules and regulations surrounding how far you can have objects protruding from the front and back of your car, as well as the weight limit of your vehicle.
Once you know you can legally travel with your kayak on your roof, it’s time to decide how you’re going to secure it up there. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you with the process:
- Use straps that don’t put a lot of pressure on your kayak. Extremely tight and tough straps, such as ratchet straps, may actually compromise the integrity of your kayak, denting the hull during its journey on your car.
- Use soft roof racks to protect your kayak as you travel. Like with the straps, hard and fine-edged roof kayak storage racks may dint your kayak and scratch it as you move it on and off the top of your car, so either invest in soft racks to begin with or pad the harder racks yourself.
- Invest in a kayak loader to help you lift your kayak onto your car and remove it once you reach your destination. A kayak loading accessory is a temporary fixture on your car that makes it easy to place and retrieve your kayak, no matter how large and unwieldy it is.
The right kayak accessories will keep your kayak safe and secure for the entire trip without damaging it. Before you take off, make sure you do a quick drive around with your kayak on your car - do a few sharp brakes to test how secure your kayak is, then stop and check it for any movement.
Never leave your kayak strapped to your car for long periods of time, as even the best-intentioned strapping may damage your kayak eventually.
Paddlezone has one of the best collections of kayak accessories in Australia, which include useful products like roof rack padding, tie-down straps and lift-assisted soft roof racks.
Transport Your Kayak In A Trailer
If you’re not comfortable transporting your kayak on top of your car, then using a trailer is a very safe and effective option - as long as you have one! Trailers are a preferred means of kayak transport for many reasons, which include:
- Easy placement and removal - Lifting a kayak is never easy, but luckily with a trailer you don’t need to do much lifting at all! Simply carry the kayak up the trailer and push it on, making sure the edge of your trailer has no sharp edges that could damage the hull. Then, when you arrive, you can pull it from the trailer the same way.
- Protection during transport - Trailers offer better protection in most cases than a roof rack, as you don’t need to worry about hitting low-hanging branches or having the kayak slide off the top of your car. A fully or partially enclosed trailer will protect your kayak from any potential damage it could face from an open trailer.
- Basic trailers are suitable - You don’t need a top-of-the-range custom trailer to transport most kayaks. The classic box-style trailer is enough to keep a smaller kayak safe, but keep in mind that large and heavy kayaks may benefit from a trailer specially designed for them.
If you’d like to transport your kayak on a trailer, make sure you are familiar with driving your vehicle with a trailer attached. A trailer will affect the weight, acceleration and brake strength of your car, and they make reversing and turning quite different!
Looking for kayak accessories in Australia that will make transporting your kayak easier? Check out Paddlezone’s collection of kayak trolleys and carts.
Discover A Huge Range Of Kayaks And Kayak Accessories At PaddleZone
Keeping your kayak in good condition will ensure you don’t get any nasty surprises when you take it to the water for the first time in a long while. The proper kayak storage and kayak transportation accessories will make sure your kayak is always ready to go when you need it.
You can find a fantastic range of kayaks for sale at PaddleZone, Australia’s favourite supplier and information source for all things paddleboarding. Contact us online for a quick chat, or visit us at your nearest PaddleZone store, where our team will help you find the perfect kayak storage racks, straps and bags for your needs.
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