Het is belangrijk om na te denken over hoe je je kajak – of het nu voor een kortere periode is of dat je hem opbergt voor winterstalling. Als je kajak correct en op een geschikte locatie wordt opgeslagen, behoud je de conditie van de kajak voor lange tijd. Je minimaliseert ook het risico op diefstal.

Inhoud:

• Binnen of buiten opbergen
• Je kajak binnenshuis opbergen
– De garage
– Wandbeugels voor kajak
– Kajakrek
– Kajakruimte bij een club
• Je kajak buitenshuis opbergen
• Dingen om te vermijden

Je kajak binnenshuis of buitenshuis opbergen?

Over het algemeen wordt een kajak het beste binnenshuis opgeborgen. Normaal gesproken raakt hij niet beschadigd door wind en kou, maar eerder door zon en verontreinigende stoffen die kunnen bijdragen aan het uitdrogen van de afdichtingen en luiken van de kajak.

Als je niet de mogelijkheid hebt om je kajak binnenshuis op te bergen, moet je een geschikte locatie vinden voor buitenopslag. Het voordeel van het buiten opbergen van je kajak is natuurlijk dat het minder ruimte inneemt in je huis, maar ook dat hij beter bereikbaar is en dat je sneller het water op kunt. At the same time, it is important to consider that there are greater stresses with outdoor storage, such as moisture, dirt, and insects. It is therefore important to clean your kayak from time to time.

More about smart solutions for outdoor storage can be found further down in the article.

How durable is your kayak? Do you have a tough plastic kayak or a delicate wooden kayak that requires more maintenance? Kayaks made from durable materials such as plastic usually fare better outdoors than, for example, wooden kayaks.

Indoor storage tips

Garage
Storing the kayak with accessories in the garage is a good and common solution. Here you usually have enough space, good temperature conditions, and easy access to the car roof when you want to transport the kayak. You should avoid placing the kayak directly on the floor; instead use wall mounts for kayak, kayak holders (transport cradles) or a kayak rack.

With wall mounts you hang the kayak on the wall in a neat and convenient way. If you choose to place the mounts a bit higher on the wall, you also save floor space and can fold them in easily when not in use. The wall mounts, sold in pairs, are attached to the wall with screws and mounted at an appropriate distance from each other (approx. 1.5 m – 3 m).

The transport cradles above are one of the simplest and most convenient solutions for kayak storage. The transport cradles are designed to be clamped onto the roof rack, but work just as well as supports when the kayak is stored on the floor or on top of, for example, a pair of wooden trestles.

Kayak racks are available for purchase in several different models, but it is also easy to build one yourself with a saw and a couple of boards.

Rent a kayak space

If you need to rent a kayak space, check with your local boat or canoe club whether they have kayak spaces available for rent. Although prices tend to vary from club to club, many people find that there are many advantages to storing the kayak at a boat club. You not only have easy access to the water but also the opportunity to find new paddling companions. On the website kanot.com, you can find all the country's canoe clubs.

Storing your kayak outdoors

If you have a plastic kayak, it is possible to store it outdoors even during winter – as long as you have the right conditions. Covering the kayak with some form of roof is always better than leaving it out in the open. A large tarpaulin or a homemade roof is usually enough to protect the kayak.

Some people choose to store the kayak upside down, placed under the overhanging house eaves to prevent larger amounts of snow from accumulating on the kayak. If you choose this method, remember to place something underneath the kayak so that it is raised slightly off the ground.

If you store the kayak in a location where there is a chance it could be stolen, it is a good idea to lock the kayak with a chain or cable. You can either run the chain/cable through the seat inside the cockpit or run a cable through the pre-installed lock eye found on some kayaks.

It is important to cover the kayak and try to prevent moisture or water from freezing on and inside the kayak, which in the worst case can cause cracks. Try to store the kayak as dry as possible.

Idea for a homemade kayak rack solution.

5 things you should NOT do when storing your kayak

1. Do not leave the kayak exposed to sun for extended periods.
   Avoid storing your kayak in direct sunlight. UV light can in some cases bleach the colour and/or damage the outer material if you store your kayak this way for an extended period. Additionally, the heat can contribute to softening the joints and drying out the hatches.
2. Do not store the kayak with the cockpit facing up.
   If you store your kayak lying outdoors without any protection, such as a tarpaulin or a transport cover, dirt and moisture can easily get into the cockpit and hatches.
3. Subjecting the kayak to unnecessary pressure.
   A kayak stored on, for example, two small wooden blocks can become dented if subjected to additional pressure. In other words, it is a bad idea to load things on top of the kayak or stack two kayaks on top of each other.
4. Strapping the kayak too tightly.
   If you use any kind of tie-down straps, do not tighten them too much, no matter how durable the kayak feels. The kayak can lose its shape over time.
5. Leaving the kayak on a rough, hard surface.
   In this case, you may accidentally scratch the kayak's hull when you move it.