Storing Your Canoe & Kayak for the Winter

Missouri is blessed to have four seasons but with shorter days and cooler temperatures, there’s no denying the time has come to store your boat for the winter.  Each spring many boat owners find their kayak or canoe doesn’t perform as well as it did in years past.  This can happen when a canoe or kayak sits improperly stored for 5-6 months of the year.  Properly storing your boat is important and you’ll be glad you spent the extra time figuring out the storage method that works best for you when it comes time to take your boat on the next float trip in the spring.  Here are some tips for storing your boat for the winter.

If possible, you should store your canoe or kayak inside in a garage, boat house or basement.  Some have gone to the extreme of keeping their boat next to their bed or used it as a couch in their living rooms.  Don’t know how well that would go over with the wife, but some wives are more tolerant than others.  If you don’t have any indoor storage available and have no other choice but to store your boat outside, make sure you don’t allow snow to pile on top of it and you should also keep your boat away from trees that may fall on it during a heavy wind storm.

The biggest problem with storing your boat outside over winter is exposure to the sun’s UV rays which degrade and discolor your boat’s material over time.  Many boat owners resort to covering their boats with a blue tarp.  But strong winds can shred even the toughest of blue tarps.  It’s better to use Danuu covers which are made for storage outdoors.  Whether you use a blue tarp or Danuu cover, be sure to tie it down securely to your boat, leaving an end open for air circulation as built up moisture can cause discoloration too.

Warm storage is ideal for boats as cold temperatures cause plastics to become brittle.  Storing your boat outside isn’t the end of the world as long as you take necessary precautions.  If you have a Royalex canoe with wood trim, it’s a good idea to loosen the screws on the gunwales before storing it for winter.  By loosening the screws you’ll prevent severe cracks in the hull as Royalex contracts at a different rate than the wood trim.

Here are a few things you must do if you are storing your boat outside in the winter.  First, store your boat off the ground.  Many boat owners use saw horses or blocks for canoes and two Universal Foam kayak blocks spaced 6-8 feet apart for kayaks.  Second, polyethylene or plastic kayaks should be stored on their sides while composite kayaks should be stored with their hull up or on their sides.  Third, hatch covers and neoprene covers should be removed and hatches should be open to the air.  If you’re worried about mice, you can use a cockpit cover to keep mice, leaves and dirt out.  Cockpit covers that are half mesh and nylon work well because they aren’t air tight but keep the mice, leaves and dirt out.  Fourth, canoes should be stored upside down and you should remove any float tank plugs from the bow and stern.

If you are fortunate enough to have indoor storage space for your boat, here are some suggestions.  Many boat owners like to hang their kayaks or canoes from the roof in their garage to keep them out of the way.  You should avoid hanging your boat from grab loops or carry thwarts as they are not structural handles.  Using a strap or sling under the hull is the best way to hang your kayak or canoe and then attaching it to a hanger on the roof.

Some like to hang their kayaks or canoes on the wall using L shaped wooden racks.  Using foam padding on the straight arms to cushion your boat, store canoes upside down on the gunwales and kayaks on their side.  These L shaped racks should be positioned under your kayak’s bulkheads to prevent any deformation of plastics.

Using these boat storage tips for winter will keep your boat in the best shape possible so you’re ready to go on your next float trip in the spring.