I’m looking to get a new kayak (either a tarpon 140 or ride 135), but the only place I have to store it is outside on our patio. My current kayak has seen some minor warping from the heat, but it was a POS from the start! I heard from someone that there’s a protective sleeve you can zip over your kayak to protect it from the elements. Are they effective? Pricy?
My other concern is transportation- Will the foam blocks work ok for a kayak that big on a small car? These aren’t questions I want answered by trial and error…
Thanks in advance!
I would think a plain old tarp covering it up would protect it from the sun damage. Not sure if you have a garage, but if you do, yaks are pretty easy to elevate above the parking area, which would keep it out of the elements.
As for transportation, foam blocks should be fine. I’ve seen luggage racks covered with a cut in half pool-noodle do the trick before. I throw mine in the back of the truck, or right on top of a simple luggage rack with no issue.
I am sure there are better and much more elegant answers that you may want to follow depending on the value of your investments though, so please look at other options.
John
1996 Sunbird Spirit 170 - 112 Johnson
15’ Ocean Kayak Scupper Pro
I use a Yakima Even Keel set up and you can get them for around 75 right now. They are the cheapest way to get into a roof rack, if you have factory cross bars.
Maybe you can build a small frame of pvc to sit around your kayak then throw a tarp over it, maybe a silver tarp.
Far better it is to dare mighty things to win glorious triumphs even though checkered with failure, than to take ranks with those poor spirits who never enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
Have you had a problem with the Even Keels wanting to spread out when you tighten down on them? It has happened a few times to me, but not always-check every now and then when driving.That’s the bad mouth on them.
I am thinking about going back to my v foam loaders with my Yakima boat loader and rack.
If possible store your boat on it’s side and put a cover over it with an air space to let the heat escape
I’ve used foam V blocks on my plain yakima rack and 2 two 6 ft cam motorcycle tie downs for transporting. Works great and keeps the rack profile low when not transporting my yak. For a small car you will want a secure rack once you know this hobby is for you. foam blocks tend to wiggle out on car roofs, and can scratch the paint.
i recently sold my SUV, so now I’ve got a truck with a hitch mount bed extender from Harbor Freight ($29!. Works great and no more lifting kayaks after a full day of paddling with my rubber arms.
I keep my kayaks under a lean-to behind my tool-shed. They get dirty and collect spiders, but it does keep the sun off them.
If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles. ~Doug Larson
There’s a clearance sale at Dick’s in West Ashley, and I saw a tan Perception Caster 12.5 for $599 I got attached to. I’m picking it up tonight. At 5’6" and 170 lbs, I think I’ll be able to stand up in it and fish. I’m very excited. All that’s been going through my head all day is ‘duuuhh… kayak. duuuhhhh… kayak.’
I have a silver tarp that should go over the yak ok, but I was hoping for something a little better looking since our patio is sort of in the open. It’ll do for now. I’m also going to get the foam blocks for transportation find a luggage rack that will fit my car.
We bought a Caster a few weeks ago and so far we really like it. For our limited knowledge it seems to paddle well and is pretty stable. My 5’6" 155 lb. son can stand up in it. At 5’10" 180 I have not tried yet. After screwing around with Dick’s in Cola for about 5 weeks, we walked out with a killer deal on ours.
Yes storage can be a problem - be sure the kayak is supported for almost the whole length on the underside if possible - even in the garage it can get really hot - don’t just hang it from the handles
Again I am really one sided being a Malibu and Malone dealer but car racks can make your kayak experience a lot more enjoyable with the right selection
Get some 303 aerospace protectant spray from Time Out, don’t spray inside boat, it’s super slick. Store your yak on it’s side or hull up, never on it’s keel. Cover with a tarp leaving air space.
Thanks for all the great info everyone. I ordered some foam blocks from Malone last week. They were a good price and came much faster than expected.
Tested the new yak out at Bulow Landing at high tide one afternoon last week. It’s a little sluggish to paddle but stable enough for me to stand in (with the understanding that I will eventually fall)… Those shallow creeks weaving through the woods are really something to see. I fished a while with live bait on a carolina rig and under a cork, but the crabs were voracious. Nice sized crabs were hanging on to live mud minnows all the way to the yak. Big mistake on their part. Unfortunately the reds didn’t want anything to do with the quartered crab either. Caught one croaker on scrimp. I thought this thing was supposed to make me catch fish!?!
I’m heading out there to give it another try tomorrow afternoon. Shoot a PM if you want to do some fishing.
