Kayak ownership, although more generally convenient than traditional boat ownership, can create one serious dilemma: storage. When you're looking for kayak storage solutions, you want to make sure that your kayaks are protected, secure, and out of the way.
Protection
Because kayaks are molded from durable plastics, you probably don't need to carve out space in your garage or garden shed to protect them from the elements.
- UV Protection: Ultraviolet (UV) light can break down plastics. If you don't have the space to store your kayak in an enclosed space like a garage or shed, you need to make sure that it's protected from the sun. If possible, propping your kayak on the shady side of your garage or garden shed can be sufficient. If you need to cover your kayak, be sure to choose a non-plastic cover. Tarps, although inexpensive, can off-gas when exposed to UV rays, which can react to your kayak's plastic.
Security
Making sure that your kayak is secured can be both a safety and durability concern. If your kayak storage solution fails, your kayak could come crashing down, which can injure both you and your kayak.
- Load Management: When you're looking at wall or ceiling mounted kayak storage solutions, it's important to consider the load limits of each option. In most cases, you'll want to choose a kayak storage solution with a limit that exceeds the weight of your kayak.
- User Friendly: Kayak storage solutions should be simple. If the wall or roof mounted kayak system you're considering comes with a thick user manual and/or doesn't seem intuitive when you're looking at them, you might want to consider a different option. Complex straps and locking mechanisms can also be difficult to manipulate while you're trying to store your kayak.
Out of the Way
Kayaks come in all shapes and sizes. Although they're easy to store and maintain, you might come to regret owning a kayak if you can't keep it out of your way.
- Up High: Some of the most innovate kayak storage solutions are ceiling mounted systems. If you transport your kayak with a roof mounted rack on your car, installing a ceiling mounted kayak storage system will allow you to drop it onto your car and retract it back up to your ceiling when you're done. When looking at ceiling mounted systems, you need to make sure the pulley and/or winching system used to lower and raise your kayak are strong enough.
Contact a kayak storage company for more information.
