Are you a kayak-freak? Then probably you own one, don’t you? Well, kayaking is a freaking-exciting pastime. But it may turn up into a nightmare if you don’t maintain your kayak properly. Repairing a kayak is a messy affair and replacing it is a costly one. So how to care for your kayak? And what can you do to maintain them?
We shall explore here the process of maintaining a kayak like a pro. So you don’t have to replace the existing kayak in your repertoire.
How to Care for Your Kayak Like a Pro?
Many people think that kayak is a cheap boat. Different kinds of kayaks can cost you a hundred to a thousand dollars. A thousand dollars investment is nothing less. So, you have to do proper care for the durability.
When you make a good investment in any equipment, you should care about this product so that it can last longer. So, to know all about how to care for your kayak, read the following tips.
Keep It Away from the Sun
It’s nice that you are paddling your kayak in the sun, even on a sunny summer day. Kayaking on summer days is also a great way of enjoyment. However, keeping your kayak boats in sunlight for a long time is not good at all.
Although most modern kayaks have inbuilt UV protection formula in the hull materials, it would be better to keep them in shadow.
If you give your kayak a prolonged exposure to sunlight, it will fade away from your boat’s bright and vibrant color. Plastic kayaks can get damaged by a hot sun hit if you leave your kayak for a long time on top of your car.
You can use UV protectant spray like 303 aerospace spray to protect your kayak from sun damage.
Keep It Clean Always
A kayak stays in the water all time, but that doesn’t ensure it is always clean. Whenever you paddle your kayak, it can be dirty with water debris. Therefore, it is wise to clean them as soon as you finish kayaking.
First, you should wash your kayak with fresh and clean water with the use of bleach or vinegar when you’ve finished kayaking for the day.
The seawater and sand can easily damage your kayaks boats, especially the metal pieces. If you don’t wash away your kayaks properly, then the salt and sand can cause serious damage to your waterways.
Footpegs might jam easily, resulting in an uncomfortable adjusting experience. Use a soap vacuum outside of the kayak review to avoid this issue.
Before storing your boat in a tarp, try to dry up properly before covering it to get rid of mold and mildew. When you’re done paddling, be sure to thoroughly clean your boat of any sand, dirt, seaweed, or other debris you may have picked up.
Keep It Covered when stored or transported
Covering your kayak is always a good idea. When you aren’t using your kayak, you should cover it up. You can use a cockpit cover to cover up your kayak when you’re leaving your kayak out of your home or garage.
A cover is the best way to protect your kayak from dust, sun, rain, snow, and any other environmental pollution. A cover also protects your kayaks from UV rays so that they can keep bright and vibrant as new.
You should keep your kayak covered, indoor or outdoor, wherever you store it.
Besides, keeping it in a shady place and under a tent-like cover or away from windows will be great care throughout the year.
Clean Rudders and Skeg after Paddling
To maintain the Rudders and skeg on a touring kayak. You’ll need to give a little more attention to them. After a busy day of kayaking, pay additional attention to these sections of your boat when you are storing your kayaks away.
Avoid kayak paddle or rudder jamming by washing salt, sand, and grime from the boat thoroughly before sailing. Be on the lookout for it; ignoring it could lead to trouble the next time you’re out on the lake.
Quick Tips for Off Time Storage
You shouldn’t hang your kayak directly from the handlebars if it is a plastic boat.
If your boat is made of plastic, it will sag, which is terrible for the hull—keeping your kayak out of the way of snow, ice, and tree limbs will be a good idea when storing them in an outdoor space.
It is because they could damage the kayak by different means.
Regular Maintenance of a Kayak
Besides special care after season, your kayak boat needs good maintenance on a regular basis to perform well. Here we will break down some regular maintenance of your kayaks.
You should store your kayak in a cool, dry location if possible. Make an effort not to get injured by any sharp or hard objects. It is recommended that you keep your kayak away from the heat and direct exposure to the sun.
If you leave your kayak in the sunlight for an extended period of time, it has a significant likelihood of cracking.
When it is time to store it outside the spot, Fish finder a shaded spot and keep it under a cover. The best way is to keep it vertically, upside down, and try to completely cover the cockpit.
It will prevent tiny animals, bugs, rain, and snow out of the kayak’s interior. To keep it secure against theft, keep it out of view and secure it with a cable lock.
Is Caring for Kayak Worth it?
Yes! A kayak isn’t a small investment. You wouldn’t love to purchase a kayak every season. So, you should do every possible thing to keep your kayak in top condition.
There aren’t engines to get spoiled, but rudders, skegs, hatches, paddles, and two lines can get spoiled into disrepair if you don’t care. Besides, taking care of a kayak doesn’t take a vast amount of effort and time.
Though you must be paying at least minimum effort to cover up it, it won’t impact your daily routine.
You should be careful when you are wrapping your kayak too tightly in sunlight. Instead, you should create a sheltered shed for your kayak boats. It will help your kayak to stay durable for a long time.
Taking proper care of your kayak and performing regular maintenance can ensure that your boat lasts longer than usual. When you’re trying to get a better return on your assets, this is something that you really must do.
Maintaining your boat will keep it looking as bright and vibrant as when it was first purchased. That will leave you with a wonderful feeling in your thoughts when you have done so.
A composite kayak Requires Extra Care: But How?
Polyethylene (plastic) kayaks are the greatest since they are able to withstand even the most difficult of environments. They’re tough and resilient. They won’t be harmed by you paddling into shallow water and dragging your kayak across the shore.
However, some issues still need to be addressed, and bending is the worst of them.
You should carefully distribute pressure throughout the kayak when storing it. Besides, a poorly distributed load may cause the plastic boat to crack when it dries.
A composite kayak requires some extra care than a plastic kayak. Composite kayaks have some advantages too. The best part of a composite kayak is that these kayak boats are lightweight.
Taking care of these kayaks is a little more difficult because they are a little more delicate. To avoid damaging the boat, steer clear of snagging it on rocks or logs.
In order to keep your composite kayaks free of scratches and dents, you’ll want a kayak cart on board. With the aid of a kayak cart, composite kayak boat caring will be no problem for you with fishing line.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any confusion about how to care for your kayak even now, these frequent questions will ease the confusion.
What Do You Use to Clean Kayaks?
Use a sponge and light soap to clean the kayak’s outside and interior 2-4 times a year. Avoid abrasives, remove all loose items before cleaning, and let everything dry completely afterward.
How do You Clean the Inside and Outside of Your Kayak?
After each outing, cleanse the kayak with a garden hose for a few seconds.
Rinse the rudders, foot braces, and any other attachments thoroughly before reinstalling them.
The rims of the cockpit, the interiors of the hatches, as well as the covers, rails, and rod holders, are all common places for sand and dirt to collect. Wipe down your kayak with a rag before transporting it.
Where do you store the kayak?
Store it in a warm, dry place away from heat sources, sunlight, and windows. When you have to store it outside, keep it in a shady spot to avoid sun damage and cracking.
You should cover the kayak to keep out rain, snow, animals, and mosquitoes. Besides, you can cover the kayak with a weather-resistant sheet to prevent mold and mildew growth.
Bottom Line
After each kayaking experience, you must take care of your kayaks; so that they are ready for the next journey.
Proper Cleaning and storing are all that are required of you to care for it.
Hopefully, you get some idea about kayak maintenance. Now apply them, buddy.