When not on the water, you will have to think about how you will keep the kayak safe and maintain it. If you live in an apartment, it becomes even more difficult to properly store a kayak.
Now, if you still have the option, the best way to store a kayak is to find a paddling club, rental operation, or a retailer that offers waterside storage. This way, you won’t have to worry about properly storing a kayak on your own.
This way, you will know that your kayak is safe and ready whenever you want to go out on the water. Some rental services also offer winter storage facility.
The best way to protect your boat is to store it inside. This will offer great protection for the kayak but can a bit of a challenge for those that live in an apartment.
You will have to improvise depending on your space constraints. To minimize space and properly store a kayak inside an apartment, several options exist. You can build or buy bracket racks or hand the kayak from the wall or ceiling.
Options For Storing A Kayak In An Apartment
If you want to protect your kayak from damage and keep it in tip-top shape, you will need to figure out how you can properly store it. Proper storage can be quite a challenge since kayaks are big and bulky.
Here are some of the most popular ways to store a kayak in an apartment. You can minimize your space by hanging it from the wall or ceiling. You can also build your own DIY bracket rack or buy them to hang the kayaks.
To help you find out the right kayak storage solution, I will be going over some common practices that are widely used by kayak owners.
Ceiling Mounts
Another popular method among DIYers is hanging kayak from the ceiling. You can use two by fours to build a loft, rack, or screw eye bolts into the ceiling. This will allow you to place the kayak up and out of the way and save ground space.
Building Wall Mounts
If you have some extra space, you can try building wall mounts in the form of a bracket and the kayaks horizontally against the wall. This will allow you to store more than one kayak.
Buying Storage Systems
There are companies that make their kayak storage system that you can buy to conveniently store your boats in a compact space. They have storage options for both the outside and the inside.
Swing System
Another good option is a swing system. This way, you can attach your kayak to the wall by attaching the swings or ropes to your walls and swinging it around the kayak. If you wrap the ropes around the boat, you can easily hang it up on a wall.
How To Store Your Kayak Indoors
I will not be talking about folding or inflatable kayaks because storing them is really simple. Instead, I will go over the single-piece kayaks that you can’t fold or roll-up.
Indoor spots offer the best protection from the elements; you will need to have the room and space to do so. You can easily store your kayak in your garage, house, or shed.
Now, I’ve already talked about the ways you can store a kayak. However, there are other things to think about when you hang your kayak or put it on the rack.
1. Make sure to store your kayak in a place where you can easily access it. You don’t want to store it where it becomes so difficult that you will end up not using it anymore.
2. Don’t leave your kayak stored vertically. The weight will exert excess pressure resulting in hull deformation. You can, however, store your kayak vertically on one end or on aside for a day or two. But don’t leave it like that for months.
Things To Keep In Mind When Storing A Kayak
A good location to store a kayak is the one that limits extreme temperatures, moisture, and exposure to sunlight. Finding such a place to store a traditional hard-shell kayak isn’t that easy because the heft and the size and the boat make it a challenge to find a spot for it.
Once you have found a suitable position to store it, you will need to keep some things in mind. Let’s talk about what makes an ideal storage spot for a kayak.
1. Doesn’t Get Direct Sunlight
The ultraviolet rays of the sun are the main enemy of your kayak. From coated fabric to plastic or fiberglass, it doesn’t matter what type of hull material your kayak has; the ultraviolet rays can easily degrade it if you leave your kayak exposed to direct sunlight for a long time.
2. Stays Dry All The Time
Moisture can also degrade kayak hull materials over time if your storage spot gets consistent exposure to moisture from snow and rain.
3. Stays Cool
Your storage spot needs to stay cool all the time because extreme heat can cause hull materials to deform. If you are planning to store your kayak inside your house, make sure the room stays cool all the time.
You want to keep your kayak as far away as possible from heat sources and also from rooms that get really warm.
4. Doesn’t Get Very Cold
While kayaks tend to last well in colder places, but repeated freezing and thawing isn’t good for your boat. While it isn’t as big of a concern as heat, it can still damage your kayak.
Fiberglass made kayaks don’t do very well in places where there is a lot of moisture, and it gets really cold during winter.
Final Words
The best way to store a kayak is to find a suitable place indoors. That being said, not everyone has the capacity or the space to store a kayak in the apartment. That’s why I’ve listed a lot of tips and techniques that you can apply to maximize storage space and protect your kayak.
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