Kayak Fishing Part 5 - Kayak Storage

1. Part 1: Intro to Kayak Fishing
2. Part 2: Choosing a Kayak
3. Part 3: Outfitting Your Kayak
4. Part 4: Transporting a Kayak
5. Part 5: Kayak Storage
6. Part 6: Going Fishing

One definite benefit of kayaks is that they take up much less storage space than a traditional boat. If you have a garage or a small area outside your house you should be able to find room to store your kayak. If you live in an apartment you might have to be a little more creative. People have been known to store them on apartment porches, on living room floors, or suspended from the living room wall or ceiling.

Which Side Up?

Depending on the hull design of your kayak it might be best stored upright, on its side or upside down. The idea is to get the kayak resting on an area that is structurally rigid so your hull does not deform. If the bottom of the kayak is relatively flat you can store it upright. If there is a keel the best option will probably be to store it propped up on its side. If your plastic boat does deform leaving it out in the hot sun for a day or two will usually help it pop back into shape.

Racks/Hangers

There are a number of racks, hangers and supports that you can get for your kayak. One of the easiest solutions is racks that screw into the wall (or two upright posts) that hold the kayak at an angle. Rigid wall racks (like the Martin Creek racks) are easy to get the kayak in and out of and will keep it off the floor and out of the way. Surf-to-Summit also makes a wall hanger that is made out of webbing and attaches to the wall. This hanger holds two boats and is completely out of the way when not in use but is a little more difficult to get your boat into.

Ceiling Pulley System

If you plan to store your boat in the garage and don’t really have space on the floor or along a wall they consider suspending it from the ceiling. You can design your own system but will have a much easier time spending just a little more money and getting something like the Harken Hoister system, which is set up to use just one lift rope and gives you a mechanical advantage allowing you to lift a heavy boat more easily.

The Simplest Solution

Many people just store their boat on the ground or propped up on sawhorses. This is a fine solution as well. Just make sure your boat is properly supported. You can use some type of padding underneath to help distribute the weight evenly.

Covering your Kayak

With a sit on top kayak this is not an issue but a sit inside kayak can offer a great place for small animals, insects and spiders to call home. If you have a sit inside kayak and are storing it in an area accessible to small creatures you might consider getting a cockpit cover to keep the inside clean. This will also help to keep water out if your kayak is stored outside.

Sun Damage!

The sun will eventually damage a plastic kayak but high quality modern kayaks include a uv inhibitor in the plastic to help limit this damage. You should be able to leave your kayak outside in the hot sun for many years before there is any noticeable damage. That said it is a good idea to store your boat out of the sun. If you will be keeping it inside then you can skip the rest of this paragraph. If your kayak will be stored outside then (a) try to find a shady spot to store it and (b) if there is much direct sunlight consider covering it with a tarp or kayak cover.