How To Store A Kayak [Beginners Guide To Kayak Storage]

Spread the love

If you own a big-size kayak or hardshell kayak, you might be aware of the store issues related to your boat. Keeping and storing a big or hardshell kayak is next to impossible, especially if you are living in a small apartment or home. Although you can keep the kayak in your garage, store or car trunk there is always a chance of getting a ding or dent.

So, what is the best way to store a kayak? 

Today, in this blog post guide, I’ll walk you through some of the best ways how to store a kayak in the garage, home, car and store. This guide covers 15 crucial tips and points on how to store a kayak along with DIY tips on how to keep your kayak vertically as well as horizontally anywhere. 

Here’s a quick snap of what you’re going to discover in this blog post. 

  • Why kayak storage is important?
  • How to store a kayak in the garage?
  • Types of kayaks that are easy to store?
  • Is it difficult to store fishing kayaks?
  • 15 Best ways to store a kayak and a lot more. 

So, without wasting any more time of yours, let’s get started. 

Why kayak storage is important?

Why kayak storage is important

If you want to keep your kayak protected and enjoy its ride for the long term, then you need to keep it safe and sound for years to come. Here are some top reasons why kayak storage is important and why you should store your kayak properly. 

1. Preventing it from theft

You surely don’t want your costly kayak to get stolen by someone, right? If yes, then you need to keep it safe and sound with the help proper storage rack for the kayak or a locking system that will protect it from getting stolen. 

Many of us take kayak and watercraft products for granted and store it outside the home or garage without proper locking or storage system, easily during the winter and rainy seasons when kayaks are not in use. This is where things start getting worse. 

If you are keeping your precious product outside the home without any safety, the chances of theft are high. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to store your kayak and keep it protected. 

2. Preventing it from damage

Many of the kayakers don’t know what is the correct way to store or keep the kayak to protect it from getting damaged internally. For example, if you keep your kayak on the ground, keeping its hull down without any cover, then the hull of your kayak might get damaged or cause a dent. 

Also, if you are keeping your kayak vertical on the ground, its bow or stern might get damaged. And if the hull, stern or bow of your kayak gets damaged, you won’t be able to enjoy your ride with utmost stability, balance and straightforward tracking experience. 

Therefore, proper storage of the kayak is of utmost importance. 

3. Preventing it from external elements 

Many kayaks are not built resistant to UV rays and other external environmental conditions. 

Kayaks that are not built UV resistant might fade the color away because of direct falling of sunlight. Also, during the winter season, excessive snowing might damage your kayak and fill up the hull with unwater snow. In fact, your kayak might also get covered in a pile of ice if not stored properly.

Even in the rainy season change of rusting is quite common, especially among the stand-up fishing kayaks and fly fishing kayaks that feature some heavy-duty steel construction points and materials. 

Therefore, it is important to store a kayak properly in the long haul. 

How to store a kayak in the garage?

How to store a kayak in the garage

There are ample easy-peasy ways by which you can store your kayak in the garage. Here are a few. 

1. Wall mounting rack

Wall mounting rack

Wall mounts or wall hangers are the best and most affordable way to store your kayak in the garage without causing any damage or tension.  Buy a wall mount system that is easy to attach to the wall and makes the kayak storage

A small-size wall mount system can hold up to 125 pounds, which makes it suited to carry small kayaks to mid-size kayaks. They also come with nylon straps and clips so you can affix your kayak and attach it tightly.

Some of the wall mountings come with hanger store hooks that secure your kayak, paddle board, canoe or surfboard upright and keep your garage space free, while foam padding helps to protect your kayak from scratches, dings and dents. 

2. Pulling system

Pulling system

Wall mounting systems might be daunting to carry and set up, so if you are looking for an easy-peasy way to store your kayak in the garage, then a pulling or hoist life system is a good choice. 

With the pulling system, you can store your kayak out of the way and keep the garage space free of cars or bikes. It comes with smooth and easy-to-use pulleys and latches, making the lifting of a duty kayak easy and effortless. Also, the exclusive rope locking system will protect your kayak from falling apart. 

One pulling system can store up to 125 lbs of weight, making them suited for. 

However, the kayak pulling system comes with some drawbacks like: as the kayak might fall apart because the ropes of the pulling system are weak. Secondly, the pulling system is not stable and the kayak might swing and get damaged if they come in contact with the wall and any other material upside. 

3. Foldable racks 

Foldable racks

If you personally ask me which is the best way to store a kayak in the garage, I would say opt for a folding kayak rack. Such racks are not only designed to store your kayak tightly but also to save space in your garage or home. They are made with heavy-duty construction material with powder-coated steel frames, making them extremely durable and long serving in life. 

Another great benefit of this type of rack is that you can easily carry and store them anywhere. You can also carry them on your kayak site and make a compact set-up before heading for actual kayaking camping or touring on the lake. 

Plus, you can also use such racks for cleaning and painting your kayak in absolutely hassle-free. 

Types of kayaks that are easy to store?

Now that you might have understood how to store and keep a kayak in the garage without getting it damaged. Let us now understand what are the different types of kayaks that can be stored easily. 

1. Inflatable kayaks

Inflatable kayaks

Inflatable kayaks need no introduction. They are one of the safest and easy to-store kayaks because they come loaded with large-size carry backpacks and other accessories. You can easily deflate the kayak, stuff it inside the bag and carry or store it anywhere in your home, cupboard, or garage. 

2. Small kayaks

Small kayaks

Small and mini-size kayaks are always easy to store anywhere you want. With their compact size, length, width, dimension and hull design, this type of kayak doesn’t require much storage space. Beach the bed or in free space cupboard, you can store them easily. 

Besides, if you are having an inflatable mini-size kayak, you can stuff it inside the large-size carry bag that comes along. They are extremely lightweight and easy to carry, allowing you to keep them anywhere without much blood, sweat and tear. 

3. Foldable kayaks

Foldable kayaks

As the name says it, foldable kayaks are one of the easiest kayaks to store anywhere. You can easily dismantle these kayaks and break them into small parts, making them easy to store in your home, backpack, inside the bed or elsewhere. 

In fact, some of the foldable kayaks like Oru Kayak come along with a backpack which helps paddlers with easy-peasy storage and transportation. 

4. Modular kayaks 

Modular kayaks

are somewhat similar to foldable kayaks, however, the latter can be foldable and dismantled into pieces, while modular kayaks can only be dismantled into small parts. You can store those small pieces in a cupboard, or backpack that might come along, or you can buy one. 

Is it difficult to store fishing kayaks?

It depends upon what kind of fishing kayak you own. For example, it is extremely daunting to store a stand-up fishing kayak, or fishing kayak for big guys that mare with rigid and hardshell construction material. Also, if you own a large-size fishing kayak, you might still face some difficulties in keeping and storing your ride. 

On the other side, if you own an inflatable kayak for fishing, it will be very much easy to store it, carry and transport it from home to your fishing spot and back home again. Such type of kayak comes with large size carry backpack and 

15 Best ways to store a kayak

15 Best ways to store a kayak

Now that you might have understood the basic details on how to store a kayak, which types of kayaks are easy to store, which types of kayaks are difficult to store and a lot more. It is now important to understand how to store a kayak safely without hurting its hull, shape and overall design, so you can enjoy riding them with the same speed, stability and performance. 

1. Decide where to store

First things first, you need to decide where you want to store or keep your kayak. 

First things first, you need to decide where you want to store or keep your kayak. This generally depends on what type of kayak you own. If you have a stand-up fishing kayak or pedal fishing kayak, you need more than enough space to fit your kayak easily. You can also start by measuring the size of your kayak and the storage space required to make your kayak fit well. 

In my opinion, it is best to store your kayak indoors, which will also help you to keep your watercraft protected from exterior elements like UV rays, wind, snow and sunlight. You can also consider storing it in a garage, basement, shed or any other indoor storage area. 

If you want to store your kayak for a long duration and you have little space in your home, then you can opt for a boat house, kayak rents, kayaking stores for rent, paddling clubs or beaches that allow you to store your kayak on rental basis. 

If you are keeping your kayak indoors, then make sure to follow the points: 

A. Make sure that the temperature of the room is moderate and not subjected to extreme cold or heat. Temperatures below freezing point and above 100 degrees should be avoided, as your kayak might get damaged or brittle. 

B. Also, make sure that you are not storing your kayak in direct contact with the sunlight. Avoid keeping it nearby windows, galleries or any such place that is exposed to UV rays and sunlight. You can also wrap your kayak and keep it indoors in the bedroom or garage. 

2. Clean your kayak [Preparing your kayak to store]

The next important step that you need to follow before storing the kayak is the clean it completely. You can use mild soap or shampoo to clean your kayak in and out. No dirt should be left inside the cockpit, stern, storage hatches or platform. 

Double the check the hull at the bottom and make sure you wipe out every drift of it. The Hull of the kayak is most exposed to the dirt beneath the water, so take proper care of it while cleaning. 

After cleaning your kayak, you need to follow the following steps: 

A. Yes, I agree that kayaks are compatible with the water, however, they are only made to store wet for a short duration. Water will being to peek inside your kayak and slowly break down the surface or weaken it. If you cover your kayak and store it wet, mould and mildew will take place inside. So, make sure that you dry your kayak nicely before storing it. 

B. Remove soft loose ends:  Before completely storing your kayak, make sure that you remove seats, drain plugs, skeg, rudder system, motor mount, mounting accessories, rod holders and other such external materials that might be making your kayak more bulky and heavy. You can remove and keep those materials and gears elsewhere. 

3. Cover the kayak if possible

No matter where you are storing your kayak, it is always a good idea to cover your kayak first, and then store it anywhere. Covering your kayak will keep it more protected from dust, dings and dent. You can opt for a soft and cushy kayak cover and drape it over your kayak for added safety. 

If budget is your constraint and you are looking for free alternatives to cover, then you can also bed sheets, curtains and other long-length cloth that can cover your kayak fully. 

Just make sure to use a cushy material, so your kayak can be nicely protected for long haul.

4. Store it on the ground level

You need to follow a perfect ground-level surface that will allow your kayak to balance properly from the tail and nose. Also, you need to make sure that your kayak can lean against a wall or something else to keep it safeguard against falling. 

Few tips to keep in mind while storing your kayak on ground level:

A. Storage horizontally on the side: Tilt your kayak horizontally and rest it against the wall. Keep the cockpit face outside and make sure that the bottom of your kayak is resting on some cushy material.  Although the kayaks are built very strong with durable and long-lasting construction material, still you should keep on checking them on a monthly basis whether they have caused any ding or dent. 

B. Store it vertically: You can also store your kayak vertically but with extreme care and safety. Lift the nose of the kayak up and keep the tail downside. Later on, rest it on the hull keeping the hull on the wall and the cockpit on the outside.  To protect your kayak and help it to stay in place, put some padding underneath it. 

C. Avoid storing it flat:  Although you can keep your keep flat for only a shorter period of time, but for a long duration, I won’t recommend this. Keeping your kayak naked on a flat surface will cause dings, dents or scratches as well. 

5. Mount it on the wall

One of the best and easiest ways to store your kayak is by using a wall mounting system. You can easily mount this system either on your home wall, garage wall, or store wall and store your kayak safely anywhere. A plethora of kayak wall mounting and rack systems are available in the market. I would personally recommend you buy a wall mount that comes with ropes and works by wrapping the ropes around the kayak. 

You can get this type of rack for around $100. It comes along with two or 4 arm handles loaded with a thick cushioned material to safeguard your kayak from causing ding or dent. You can also securely support your kayak with the rope and protect them from falling apart. 

Here’s how you can leverage this system and store your kayak safely: 

A. Attach the system to the wall: Firstly, you should locate the studs of your wall and then you need to drill the hole in the centre of the stud. Attach one rack handle at a time and make sure they are in tandem with one another in terms of height and living. The distance between the arms will depend on the size of your kayak. Their distance should be half the length of your kayak. 

Once you are done with the wall mount and arms, you need to affix the hanger. 

To affix the kayak hanger, you’ll first need to locate the wall studs or ceiling rafters. Then start drilling for the holes. The distance between them should be about twice the total length of your kayak. Later, you can tighten the screw in the hope you drilled. You will then insert the hook into each eye bolt and the rope will hang down, allowing you to wrap your kayak. 

B. Hang your kayak on it : Now your rack is ready.  It is now important to store your kayak wisely. While storing, make sure the cockpit is facing outside as it is the strongest part of your kayak. 

6. Built a PVC rack yourself 

The above-mentioned process of buying a kayak rack and mounting it on the wall is slightly complicated, time-consuming and expensive as well. So, if you are wondering how to store a kayak without buying a rack is by building a rack yourself with the help of PVC pipe. 

Here’s how you can do it.

A. Buy a PVC people and frame

B. Assemble the PVC with the frame

C. Affix the PVC frame to the wall

D. Place your kayak on it. 

How to store a kayak vertically?

Storing your kayak vertically is the best thing and here’s why? 

1. Space: 

You can store your kayak vertically anywhere in your home or garage without having much space. Even if you are living in a small apartment, you can still store your kayak vertically as this process does not occupy much space. A kayak that is stored vertically will use less space and leave enough room for home furniture, decor, keepsakes and more storage space. 

2. Number of kayaks

Without any doubt, you can store loads of kayaks vertically as compared to keeping them horizontally. You can at least keep 4-5 kayaks in this position with utmost safety. 

3. Safety 

Vertically storing the kayak is also one of the best ways to ensure the safety of your kayak. Whether you are positioning the stern upside or downside, a vertically secured kayak is a safe kayak. 

Here’s how you can store your kayak vertically. 

  • First, you should choose a suitable location to keep your kayak vertically. A kayak stored vertically needs to be away from sunlight, heat, animals and kids as well. This will ensure the longevity of the kayak and make sure that it won’t fall apart. 
  • After choosing the location, you need to position your kayak. There are two ways how you can store your kayak vertically. First, you can keep it standing on the stern. Second, you can lean it against the wall or rack. 
  • While storing your kayak vertically you also need to make sure the nose, tail and hull have enough protection. The best way to protect this  section of your kayak is by using a cover, cloth and cushioned material. 

How to store a kayak horizontally? 

Storing your kayak horizontally is one of the easiest things to do, and here’s how you can do it. 

1. Kayak a wall rack system

2. Use free-standing rack

3. Buy a kayak-pulling system

4. Use wall-mounting racks

FAQs About Kayak Storage

Why it is important to store a kayak?

It is important to store your kayak nicely to protect them from getting damaged by UV rays, heat, weather conditions and other sorts of abrasion in the form of dings, dents and more. 

How to store a kayak in the garage?

You can store a kayak in the garage with the help of a wall mounting system, kayaking roof rack, pulling system and folding kayak racks. 

How to store a kayak on the wall?

To store a kayak on the wall, you need to use a wall mounting rack system or place the kayak vertically leaning towards the wall. I would prefer the first option as it is safer. 

Is it okay to hang kayaks on walls? 

Yes, it is okay to hang the kayak on the walls, provided that you can good safety rack and ropes to hold the kayak tightly for a long duration. 

Leave a Comment