I vaguely remember there being something wrong with this–that it can soak up water or something like that–but what is wrong with leaving your boat on the ground–directly on the ground–outside? Many thanks in advance.
Staining?
Perhaps you may get some staining on the gel coat from acids in the soil. Leaf litter can also stain as I have found out in the past. I have been forced to keep several of my glass boats outside but I prefer to prop them up on foam blocks about six inches off the ground. I also keep s tarp over them to help protect from UV dammage. This is not an ideal set up but temporary until I can build a rack of some sort.
Gary
It will die.
It’s really best to let a composite boat
get a chance to dry out between uses. Of the resins commonly used today, epoxy is the least susceptible to long-term water damage, and vinylester is pretty close. Some older polyester resins slowly combine with water, causing blisters. (One of my Mad River canoes suffered this fate.) Glass fiber is not harmed by water. There are old wives tales about Kevlar soaking up water and delaminating, but none of my Kevlar boats has shown a sign of this.
So, it’s not a good idea, but if you have to rest it on the ground for a few months, it isn’t going to destroy the boat.
But why?
You can either buy premade or cut to shape some minicell blocks and set the kayak on those instead of directly on the ground. Place them under the bulkheads, close the hatches and cover the cockpit, and cover the whole shebang with a tarp if you can.
I would worry about mice chewing deck rigging and the like, but the kayak can sit on foam blocks all winter. Both my plastic kayak and my glass kayak do, though they’re stored in a shed rather than outdoors.
the ivy leaves prints
Off the ground on the cheap …
2 semi deflated 2 liter pop pottles placed near the ends if you keep it right side up. Upside down a couple chunks of foam @ the ends to get it 'lifted.
Add a tiny one on the side to bias the balance and lean. Smallest amount of surface area used here with both above methods that will support the boat without collectiing misc. dust and dirt from acid rain and retain an even UV distribution. The ‘pointy’ ends are plenty strong. For sure dry out or crack the hatches a bit 'till dry and do not store anything wet or heavy in there if poss.
Leaving it on the ground is asking for all the little critters to investigate it. Worms included.
foam blocks under bulkheads
– Last Updated: Mar-30-10 3:48 PM EST –
You can get them between 10 and 15 bucks. They can also be used for transport. Good investment.
why would anyone …
– Last Updated: Mar-30-10 10:47 PM EST –
....... just leave a canoe or kayak laying directly on the ground when they could set it up off the ground on something ... anything ??
Even if it didn't harm the boat (which it does) , it will kill the grass asap ... and if it's just plain dirt , again refer to first question .
Polyester absorbs water and needs to have chance to dry out . Boats that are left in the water like fiberglass (polester) powerboats are smartly bottom painted to protect the polyester gel coat from absorbing water and the stuff that is in that water .
Leaving something laying directly on the ground subjects it to more than just H2O ... that H2O reacts with minerals , metals , acids , chemicals , etc. in the ground , and that reaction will be taking place against whatever is left laying on the ground .
You won’t see many boats made with
polyester anymore. Vinylester predominates, and it is almost as good as epoxy in resisting water damage.
small saw horse
A couple of 2x4s and yer done.
pool noodles
Cut a couple to fit.