Buying a kayak can be easy and fun. If you have kayaking experience than you probably know what type of kayak you are interested in and it’s just a matter of shopping around to find the best kayak deals. If you’re new to kayaking than it will and should take you longer to choose the right kayak.  You want to make sure the kayak you choose fits the type of paddling you are planning on doing.

With proper care, and storage, the kayak you purchase can last you many, many years.  You will probably decide to purchase a different type of kayak way before the kayak you own needs replacing. Then you can decide to place your used kayak for sale or keep it to add to your collection.

New to kayaking

If you’re new to kayaking than you need to decide what type of kayaking you would enjoy.

 I mostly enjoy flatwater kayaking. I like to kayak on lakes, ponds, and rivers, although I do enjoy a little whitewater, like a class I or II. I also had children I wanted to take kayaking on lakes and ponds so I needed a kayak that was wide and stable enough so I can sit a child in the kayak with me. The kayak I purchased was a Perception Swifty. It has a wide cockpit for easy entry and exit and I can sit my child in it with me. It’s about 9.5 feet long so it was easy for me to put on the roof rack of my car. My son and daughter both loved paddling with me. When they got older, they got their own Perception Swifty kayak.  So now we are a kayaking family. Many recreational kayaks come with an accessory option for an extra slip- in seat for your child.

• To find out what type of kayaking you would enjoy you will need to do some research. Look for kayaking events, paddling races, festivals, paddlefests, or demonstrations around where you live. Many times kayaking events will have kayaking demonstrations.  You might be able to try out different types of kayaks or speak with other kayakers.  To find these paddling events, check with your local kayaking stores or check out our kayak, canoe, paddling events page.  Just click on the state or month. We have listings for all over the United States.
• You can also check out our How to choose a kayak page  to find more helpful information in choosing the right kayak for you.

Once you decide which kayak is for you, you can start shopping around for the best price. Check your local stores for sales and also check online stores. Click here to find some of the best kayak deals.

When you have your kayak and are ready to paddle, check our places to paddle page to find paddling locations all over the U.S.

Have fun and welcome to the kayak family.

Hopefully your kayak is stored in a safe dry place.
If you live in a warmer region you may still be paddling, although with the weather lately even the warmer regions haven’t been too warm!
Have you protected your kayak from the elements?
The best storage area would be indoors like a garage, basement, or shed. I’ve seen kayaks stored under a house (in the crawl space), a large bedroom closet, and in a living room on its side between the couch and the wall. You would not have even known it was there if you didn’t look.
If you do not have room to store indoors than store under a shelter or overhang.
Whichever storage method you use will depend on the space you have available.
How will you store your kayak?
You can hang them on straps, stand them upright, and store them upside down or on their side. I have stored my kayaks using all of these methods.
Storing your kayak off the ground will protect your kayak from moisture and extreme temperature changes.
Don’t forget the cockpit cover! This will help keep bugs and other pests from making your kayak their home.  I have cockpit covers on all my kayaks. This way I don’t have to check for spider’s every time I go paddling!
No shelter available?
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.
Have you protected 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 or non movable objects using a cable and lock.
Where do you store your kayak? We would love to hear from you.