I paddled canoes a bunch as a kid and rented a kayak once or two. I took a sea-kayaking lesson last weekend and I’m taken another one this coming week. I like paddling sports and I’m considering maybe looking for a used sea kayak (hoping for something decent in the $1k-2k range). But I worry about the logistics of transportation and storarg.
I read that indoor storage is best but my garage is 18’ long. a 17’ kayak would take some work putting up some kind of gig somewhere to hang it and then it’s tough to get around the garage. I could hang it outside under the family room where it would be completely protected but it would get cold New England temps in winter (down to -5 on a bad night). And of course I’d have to figure out how to hang it safely. I don’t want to roach something I dropped $2K on because I didn’t hang it properly.
Then there’s transportation. I drive a Camry with no racks. I have a ton of old Thule stuff from my windsurfing days but only the bars would be reusable; I’d have to spend a couple hundred to get the compatible ends for the bars. Of course I’ve heard you can just put pads on the roof and run tie-down webbing through the doors. I wouldn’t have a problem with that. Then there’s a bow and stern line for safety. There are no tie-down points on the bumpers or under the front or back of the car. I’ve seen those things that are loops with a slug at one end you put in your hood and truck to give you tie downs. Is that going to work for safely transporting?
(I do have access to the Venza we handed down to my son which does have bars built-in. I’ll have that at least until he takes it to college in a year or two. But I’d still need bow and stern line tie downs.)
Are these insurmountable obstacles to owning a kayak? I don’t want it to be a PITA to move and store as I’m busy and will be lucky to use it a dozen times a year when I have some free time.
Any tips for storage and transportation?