Well, as much as we hate to admit it, for many of us, it’s getting near time to put up the kayak and canoe for the winter.

If you’re lucky enough to live in a warmer region you may not need to put up your boat just yet, or at all. But there will be times when you’ll want to store your boat for a while, so this post will be equally helpful to you.

There are several ways to store your kayak when the paddling season ends. You can hang them on straps, stand them upright, store them upside down, or on their side. But there are some pre-storage steps you need to do first, whichever way you choose to store your kayak.

When preparing to store your kayak:

• Wash it, especially if you paddle in salt water. Make sure to dry it completely.
• Cover the cockpit with a cockpit cover to keep bugs and other pests from making your kayak their home.
• Avoid sun and weather. This will help keep your kayak’s hull from deforming, cracking, or fading.
• Store your kayak off the ground. This will protect your kayak from moisture and extreme temperature changes.

To protect your kayak from the elements store indoors like a garage, basement, shed etc. If you do not have room to store indoors than store under a shelter or overhang.

If you do not have a shelter you can build a very simple one using a weather resistant tarp. You will want to hang the tarp over your kayak. Do not wrap or cover your kayak with the tarp because this may promote moisture and mold.

You can hang your kayak from straps or place it on sawhorses. You will want to support your kayak and distribute the weight evenly at several points along the length. You can use straps or cradles to distribute weight evenly.

Your other kayak, canoe and paddling equipment will need some pre-storage care as well, so:

• Don’t forget to clean and dry your life vest ( PFD), paddles, accessories, and store in a cool, dry, place. You can hang them or store them flat.

IMPORTANT! Protect your kayak against theft:

If you are storing you kayak outside, find a spot that is hidden from view. You don’t want to make it easy for someone to just carry it off. You may want to consider locking your kayak to heavy/non movable objects using a cable and lock.

If you need some of the essentials we’ve talked about in this article, here are a couple of links to reputable kayak, canoe and paddling gear dealers:

Kayak Cockpit Covers can be found at Altrec.com, just click this link to browse their selection.

Boaters World offers a simple $10.99 tarp, click here to take a look at it and see if it will work for you.

If you have any tips for our readers about storing a canoe, kayak or other paddling gear, please let us know by either leaving a comment on this post or clicking here to use our handy contact form.