Storing a kayak properly is an absolute necessity. Many kayak owners—especially new, first-time kayakers—simply leave their kayak leaning against a garage wall or on the ground in their backyard, and this is a recipe for a ruined item. Good kayak storage ideas take the following into account:
Kayak weight distribution
Storing a kayak in a way where its weight isn’t evenly distributed, like leaning it against a wall or on its side, will cause the hull to deform. Over time, it may eventually crack or become permanently unstable.
Kayak weather protection
Since kayaks are durable and waterproof, people often think they’ll hold up to the elements without much care. Unfortunately, that’s not true. Temperature changes will cause the hull to expand and contract, and the sun’s UV rays can also degrade the integrity of the kayak. It will also just get grimy over time as mold and mildew take hold.
Efficient use of storage space
The most important thing is keeping your kayak safe and secure, but we also want to keep it tidy and accessible without taking up too much space. Clever storage solutions can make great use of space.
Kayak Racks
1. Rad Sportz 2-Kayak Freestanding Rack
If you’ve only got one or two kayaks and space for a freestanding rack, the 2-kayak stand made by RAD Sportz will get the job done at an affordable price. The multitude of positive Amazon reviews tells the tale. This rack is made of powdered steel, and it uses durable UV-protection-coated cushions to avoid scratching when the kayak’s coming off or on. Those powder and UV coatings protect the rack from sun damage, so if you use this rack in your yard, deck, or dock, the cushions won’t fall apart after a summer. It also sports a dual tripod base with hold-down anchors, a super important feature that some racks skimp on, making it especially stable. It’s a great all-around option for the price.
2. An Easy DIY PVC Kayak Rack
PVC piping is one of the cheapest materials to purchase, and it’s also super easy to work with. This DIY rack design uses PVC ‘T’ fittings and PVC glue to construct a rack, and it’s one of the most accessible, convenient DIY kayak racks we’ve seen. It’s also light, making it easy to move from place to place. If Do-It-Yourself kayak storage ideas tend to intimidate you—and come on, we’re not all master craftsmen—then don’t skip this one.
3. Malone Auto Racks FS 6 Kayak Storage Rack System
For those investigating kayak storage ideas because you’ve got multiple kayaks on your hands, free-standing racks like the Malone FS 6 are great. The FS 6 can hold—you guessed it—six kayaks, and it supports a total weight load of up to 500 lbs. It comes with four sets of steel-padded J-Style holders and some foam stacker blocks. It can be used indoors or outdoors, and a lifetime warranty guarantees it.
4. Wooden DIY 3-Kayak Rack
This wooden kayak rack is excellent for three kayaks, or you can store fewer kayaks and have extra space for paddles, life preservers, and other accessories. All of the materials necessary to build it should be available from your local hardware store, and it doesn’t require high-level carpentry skills to create. This great afternoon or weekend project will leave you with a solid, sturdy DIY kayak rack.
Wall Mounts for Kayaks
5. The 15-minute DIY Indoor Kayak Rack
For a truly unique kayak storage idea, this minimalist DIY rack is built along the wall of a shed in this YouTube video, using just a few pieces of lumber and some basic hardware to attach the rack. This enables several kayaks to be stored vertically along a wall. A particular cut is required for one piece of lumber, but it’s easy enough for those with the proper tools or easy to get it done by a carpenter or at a hardware store.
6. StoreYour Board 4 Kayak Wall Storage Rack
StoreYourBoard’s 4 Kayak Wall Storage system is flexible and dependable. Its heavy-duty aluminum and steel construction holds up to 400 lbs (100 lbs per level), more than enough for most kayaks. Its design features 45 mounting points, which allows you to customize the storage attachments exactly how you need them to fit. You can also easily use the included quick-connect pins to adjust each rack level's height. Felt padding keeps those precious kayaks from getting scuffed or scratched while moving them in and out of the rack.
7. COR Surf Kayak or Paddleboard Heavy-Duty Padded Wall Storage Sling
Kayak wall mounting systems usually use a “J-Hook” design, a flat shelf-like design, or straps. Strap designs are some of the easiest to set up and use, not to mention the most economical. This COR wall storage sling uses heavy-duty padded straps and comes with mounting hardware to install the brackets. You’re going to want to make sure you anchor those screws properly, so the whole system sits securely, but installation is quick and easy. A 30-day guarantee backs COR’s storage sling.
Ceiling Mounts for Kayaks
8. StoreYourBoard 2 Kayak Ceiling Storage Rack
Some of our favorite kayak storage ideas involve hanging them from the ceiling, ensuring they’re not taking up space you’d otherwise be using. The StoreYourBoard 2 Kayak Ceiling Storage Rack is a popular overhead garage hanger at a great price. Like other ceiling racks, this isn’t meant for especially heavy kayaks—which would be a colossal pain to slide into a ceiling rack anyways—but it will hold roughly 75 lbs per side. The rack fits kayaks up to 18" thick, and there are options for 25" or 30" wide arms.
9. Suspenz Ceiling Rack
The Suspenz Ceiling Rack available at REI is pricier than some of its competitors, but it has a bit of unique functionality that might appeal to some. The rack’s L-shaped arms can be adjusted to sit at different heights or sit on one side of the main mount instead of both. This means you can hang two kayaks vertically, one sitting beneath the other, to take up less lateral space. Or, you might store one kayak and something like a surfboard above/below it—or even something much less fun, like a ladder or yard tools.
Pulley and Hoist Systems for Kayaks
10. Rad Sportz Kayak Hoist
Kayak hoists are another excellent way to store kayaks up and out of the way without spending much cash. For example, they physically eliminate the need to physically lift the kayak into a ceiling rack. The Rad Sportz Kayak Hoist supports up to 125 lbs, and it’s more precisely engineered than some of its competitors—the strap hooks are stronger, which is a weakness of some other hoists. The hooks are also coated in rubber, which keeps them from scratching the kayak when storing it. This hoist system is for ceilings up to 12 feet, and it’s easy to set up and start using.
11. DIY Kayak Hoist
It’s pretty simple to set up your own custom pulley and hoist for your kayak. This particular DIY option is a good way of going about it using nylon rope, carabiners, pulleys, and a cleat. Understanding the logic behind this DIY design will help you know how more or less all DIY kayak hoists work, enabling you to customize a design that best fits your storage space.
Protect the investment you made in your kayak!
There are so many options for storing a kayak that protect it forever while keeping your space more organized. Most kayak storage ideas are very affordable, considering the price of kayaks themselves, so there’s no reason not to store your watercraft correctly. If you really want to go the extra mile, set up something like a kayak rack inside a self-storage unit, which will provide year-round protection from the elements and keep the kayak out of the way until you’re ready to use it—just swing by and pick it up on your way to the water!
Visit us at your local BuxBear Storage location to secure a climate-controlled storage unit for all your storage needs! And give us a call with any storage-related questions. We’re happy to help!