How To Store Your Kayak For Winter
Now that winter is quickly coming upon us, it’s time to start thinking about what you should do to store your kayak over winter. Some people make the mistake of not storing them properly and then when they go to use them next spring and summer, they find out that their kayak no longer looks quite the same.
Here are the main things you must do in order to properly store your kayak at winter.
Clean It First
After your last run on the water, take some time to thoroughly clean your kayak with a hose in order to remove any salt or other substances that have accumulated throughout your kayak trips.
If you fail to do this, over time the salt can eventually weaken the material the kayak is made out of, making it less functional.
Simple water will work – so you don’t need to worry about mixing anything special, just be sure that you get all areas really well.
Clean The Insides
The next step to store your kayak for winter is to clean out and around all the hatches as well as throughout the inside. In some cases salt water may have gotten inside the kayak and if you let this sit over winter, that can also damage the structural integrity of the inside of the kayak.
Tip Over To Dry
After both the outside and inside of your kayak have been cleaned, then you should tip it over and stand it upright to allow all the remaining water to run off it. Once it appears as though this is finished, then take a soft towel and gently use it to wipe over the outer and inner portions again.
Place It In Storage
The ideal area to store your kayak for winter will be in the garage where it is nice and dry and doesn’t get to extreme temperatures as easily. If that’s not an option and you can only store it outside, then do so but make sure you stand it upright on a slight angle. This way any snow or rain that falls onto the kayak will easily run off it, rather than settling inside for the winter season.
Also, if you’re going to store it outside in an area that does get a fair amount of sunlight, consider placing some form of cover (a tarp or other material) over it to prevent the UV rays from weakening it.
By making sure you keep these points in mind, you will extend the life of your kayak and get better use out of it. If you complete these storage procedures immediately after your last trip, then it’ll be done and out of your way until next year.
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