Once you purchase your kayak and head out on the first couple of trips, you may wonder how to store a kayak in garage and keep it out of the way. Kayakers of all levels can benefit by learning how to store kayaks.
If you don’t do it correctly, you can damage the hull of your kayak, so making sure you do it correctly is important.
Many kayakers have no option to keep their kayak outdoors, or that is what they think. Luckily, it can be much easier than you imagine to protect your kayak and keep it indoors.
In our guide, you can learn the right way to store a kayak and keep it safe from the elements using certain methods. (Read Our Lifetime Sport 10′ Fisher Review)
Preparing for Kayak Storage
Before storing a kayak, you need to follow certain steps. Here you can find the things to be aware of.
Select Your Location
It would help if you had an idea of where to store your kayak because having lots of space is half of the equation.
You’ll want to place it somewhere away from direct sunlight or heat sources and where the temperature doesn’t fall below freezing or rise above 100 degrees. For this reason, indoor storage is usually best.
Cleaning Kayak
Clean a kayak before storing it, as dirt, debris, and oils will degrade the hull. Wash dirt and oils from outside and inside.
Covers
Whether you plan to store kayak inside or outside, you should use a storage cover. Such covers help ensure no moisture or animals get inside while your boat is in storage.
You can use a tarp, but make sure to leave space between the tarp and kayak. Create a frame or kayak tent are suitable options when using a tarp.
Position
You can store your kayak vertically or horizontally, and both have advantages. It is worth noting to never store a kayak perfectly flat in a horizontal position. The hull could bow over time.
Garage Storing
A garage is among the more popular areas to store a hard-shell kayak.
How Do You Hang a Kayak on the Wall?
If it is in-season, you can store kayaks outdoors as you want to make sure it is accessible. Besides this, you need to be sure your cockpit is covered, and you don’t want to keep your kayak on the ground. (Learn About Kayaking with Toddlers)
So long as your kayak is off the water, you can use one of the following methods for storing kayak outside.
Outdoor storage can include:
- Under decking
- Under a roof or eaves
- In your garden shed
- On a covered porch
- Under a UV-resistant kayak cover
- Under a tarp
You can store kayaks long-term outdoors should you live in a mild climate. Buying a wall mount could appear unnecessary if you’ve got lots of space to store your kayak. However, using a wall mount has more advantages than being a space saver.
Storing a kayak incorrectly, particularly with a plastic hull, can make it warp. Should it do this, it’s difficult to re-straighten it. Storing your kayak on hard, flat surfaces also has some downsides.
Any sections of a kayak in contact with a hard surface can get scratched or dented. Storing your kayak off the floor will also reduce the chances of mold or mildew from any damp.
Using a wall mount lets you support the weight of a kayak evenly, and by doing so, you reduce the risk of warping and eliminate any scratching or dents from a hard surface. In addition, hanging a yak from a wall helps increase the airflow to prevent mold.
A kayak rack wall mount is effective and simple to store your kayak and freeing space in your storage area. (Learn What Piece of Safety Equipment is Required on Every Canoe and Kayak)
Here are a few things to consider before you purchase a wall mount kayak rack.
Inside or Outside
If you don’t have internal space to store a kayak, you could think your shed or mounting a wall rack on an external wall may be ideal.
It’s not impossible to store a kayak outside, yet even if you consider the weather, you need to think about theft from storing a kayak outdoors for long periods. You would need some way of keeping your kayak or stand-up paddleboard secure when using your outdoor storage rack.
Because of this, you can see why many want their kayak indoors for full protection. Here’s what you need to do if you have a DIY hanger for your storage space or use EZ Kayak racks as your chosen hanger.
You will see on EZ kayak steel racks because they have padded areas to protect even more. Indoor DIY kayak racks can stop theft, yet they may not have proper durable padding or are made from steel to care for the edges of your hull during kayak storage.
Measure First
Mounting a kayak wall rack isn’t too challenging, so long as you measure for your new mount correctly.
Consider the kayak length as storing a medium-sized, recreational kayak may not pose too many issues. However, a heavier 15-foot touring or sea kayak could require a heavy-duty mount and lots of wall space. (Read Vibe Sea Ghost 110 Review)
Check the weight of your kayak when looking for a wall mount and the load-bearing areas of your wall. Even if your padded kayak rack is steel, it’s no good if your wall can’t support it. The last thing you want to see is your kayak on the ground as it has pulled the screws from the wall.
It is recommended you affix a kayak wall mount to solid brick or stone wall when possible, or at least a sizeable wooden stud. (Read Our Lifetime Manta Kayak Review)
Remember, many kayak storage mounting kits don’t come with specific fittings for your wall mount into such substances. The screws and fittings to attach a wall mount to brick walls are quite different and need purchasing.
Is it OK to Store a Kayak Vertically?
One of the best space-saving solutions is to keep your kayak in a vertical position. To do this, you need lots of height while using the least amount of space horizontally. Remember that as the stern bears most of the weight, you need to place sufficient padding underneath.
Make sure your cockpit faces outward, and the shell leans lightly against the wall for support. You can position some pegs on either side of your kayak at the top, so it doesn’t fall sideways. Make sure the padded area won’t slip, as this could cause your kayak to fall.
How Do You Hang a Kayak From The Ceiling?
You will find the best way how to store kayak is in your garage indoors and helps avoid damage from the outside.
Rather than use a wall hanger, you can use a kayak pulley system, so long as you remember a few things,
You’ll need a stud finder to check the ceiling as it has to be strong enough to support pressure from the kayak pulley system and the kayak weight.
Here’s how to hang your kayak from the ceiling.
Materials needed are strong climbing rope, large eyehooks (x4), Cleat (x1), small pulleys (x5), carabiners (x2), and two-heavy duty boat straps. (Read Our Pedal Kayak Reviews)
How to Build a Kayak Pulley
Below are the rough steps you need to have the best and easiest indoors kayak storage system in your garage.
- Find a durable location on your garage ceiling to screw eye hooks
- Measure the kayak where the boat straps will sit around the kayak body
- On the ceiling, measure either side of the strap to find the position for each eye hook
- In line with your eyehooks, locate a secure position to fasten the cleat on the garage wall. The cleat is your lock and positioned from the furthest end of the hook with no pulley.
- Secure rope to the first of the three eye-hooks and three pulleys. This is the first three pulleys hanging from the ceiling)
- Take two pulleys and connect the same rope to your carabiners.
- Fasten one end of the rope to the hook that isn’t connected to a pulley.
- Take one pulley to feed the rope through.
- Feed the rope through the single pulley toward the one end and the first pulley on the other end.
- Connect the remaining loose pulley, and feed the rope through the final pulley. Tie this to your cleat.
- Your carabiners should now hang, so all you have to do is fasten your boat straps, so they are secure.
- Hook the carabiners to the straps before lifting the kayak from the ground.
- As you hoist, your kayak rises horizontally.
- When in position, you can secure the rope around the cleat.
