Is it ok to store a kayak outside?

[ocean_314]

I am looking into getting into Kayak diving and the only place i have to store one is outside. Would this hurt the plastic? thanks for your advice.

[So-Cal Spearo]

No. mines been outside for 6 years straight and looks the same minus other damage from wear.

[bluesquids]

Well, plastic pretty much lasts forever.

However, I've seen yaks that are kept on decks of boats and tied up on beaches as tenders and they are so brittle that they have been shattered and destroyed by what looks like a kick to the side.

These guys though are getting full sun and hit by UV light 24/7.
If your yak is in the shade and/or only getting a few hours of full sun a day. Then you should not have a problem for many years. A tarp or old car cover would also mitagate this as would a UV protectant spray.

If your yak starts smelling like fish and you have rats around, they can chew holes in your boat. Bust some traps on those those suckers.

[bluewatermafia]

yeah, UV damage would probably eat through diamonds given enough time. i would defiantly try and cover it up with something. that will also help hide it from would be thieves.

[SpearRiffe]

yea if you can keep it under cover and upside down that will help a lot.

[Seth]

i keep my yaks in a shady spot, but outside, they are doing good so far

[Fis_Hunter]

I have a small deck and keep it under it other than a little dust it looks like the day I got it minus the scratches and bumps.

[sailcrazy]

you could spray it with marine 303 from 3m to protect it

[Ron S]

you could spray it with marine 303 from 3m to protect it

I was pretty skeptical of that stuff, but not anymore. I was looking for a specific boat, (Necky Amaruk double, made in Canada, not the new crap). Anyway, the only one I could find was a used one from California Canoe and Kayak. The owner said they store the boats outside, but keep them coated with 303. At his suggestion, I took the hatch cover off my old yellow Sea Lion. the top was much more oxidized than the underside, and that boat is stored in my garage, only seeing the sun when in use. Next I popped the cover off one of the Necky hatches, on the boat that's been in the sun for a couple years but treated regularly with 303. No oxidation could be seen.
All my boats are stored in the garage, but now they're also treated with the 303.
Ron.