How to Store Your Kayak or Paddleboard for the Off-Season
Gear care Kayaks and SUPs
Most off-season damage doesn't happen on the water. It happens in the garage.
Store a kayak or paddleboard clean, completely dry, supported off the ground and out of the sun. Those four things prevent most of the fading, warping and mold people find in spring.
Pick the spot first
Where to store it
The location decides how much protection you have to add yourself.
Best
Indoors
- House
- Garage
- Shed
REI calls indoor storage the preferred option because of the protection it offers from the elements. Keep the boat away from heaters and from rooms that get really warm.
Workable
Sheltered outdoors
- Under a deck
- Under the eaves
- Under a tarp
REI lists all three as suitable. Perception suggests leaning the kayak on its side under the eaves with the cockpit facing the house. REI also suggests a security cable or a steering-wheel lock across the cockpit.
Avoid
Exposed or flat on the ground
- Direct sun
- Bare ground
- Heat sources
REI warns that UV degrades almost any hull material and that storing a boat on the floor or ground for long periods can deform the hull.
Organized by SKÖ from REI Expert Advice and Perception Kayaks guidance.
Before it goes away
Five things to get right
Rinse Fresh water, every part
REI says to rinse with fresh water to remove dirt, sand, salt or grime, and to get the rudder, rudder cables and footbraces too. Red Paddle Co adds that mild soap helps with tougher patches on a board. Pull paddles, skirts and fins so each gets rinsed and dries on its own. While you're at it, Old Town suggests checking the gaskets, including on drain plugs and some storage hatches.
Dry completely Inside the hull, not just the deck
Perception says to drain water from the drain plug, if your kayak has one, and wipe it down, especially around the cockpit and hatches. Red Paddle Co's reason for drying a board fully is to avoid a buildup of mould over the winter.
Support it Off the floor, never by the grab loops
REI recommends a rack that holds the boat on its side or hull-side up, with padded cradles or wide straps that match the curve of the hull. Supporting it about one-third of the way in on each end works well. If you hang it, hull faces the ceiling, and never hang it by the grab loops. Perception adds not to store a kayak flat for long periods.
Old Town recommends leaving the seat on its pedal kayaks over the off-season, because it acts as lateral support for the hull. Check what your own manufacturer says before pulling the seat.
Shade and steady temperature Sun and heat do the most damage
Old Town calls UV a kayak's worst enemy, even with UV inhibitors in the plastic, and says outdoor storage is fine in a mostly shady spot or under a cover. REI notes heat can deform hulls; cold is less of a concern, but repeated freezing and thawing can potentially cause damage. Perception suggests avoiding temperatures below freezing.
Covering outside? REI says to suspend the tarp above the hull rather than wrapping it, since direct contact can promote mold, and to make sure it can't fill with water and press down. Perception recommends a UV-resistant tarp with no low spots.
Inflatables Loose, dry, and cool
Red Paddle Co says to deflate the board slowly through the valve and roll it fairly loosely so it isn't over-compressed, then keep it somewhere cool and dry, away from temperature swings and direct sun. REI offers an alternative if you have room: leave it partially inflated at about 5 psi and store it like a rigid board, which can help prevent permanent creases.
If your board lost air during the season, see why a paddle board loses air overnight before you put it away.
Craft by craft
How to position each type
| Craft | Store it like this |
|---|---|
| Hard-shell kayakPlastic or composite | On its side or hull up, on padded cradles or wide straps about a third in from each end (REI). Not flat on the floor (REI, Perception). |
| Inflatable or folding kayak | Loosely rolled or folded, in a cool, dry place (REI). |
| Hard paddleboardEpoxy or rotomolded | Deck against the rack to protect the hull, or hung hull up, with padding or straps (REI). Keep it out of sun and heat, which can delaminate the shell (REI). |
| Inflatable paddleboard | Clean, dry, deflated and loosely rolled (Red Paddle Co), or partly inflated at about 5 psi and racked like a hard board (REI). |
Organized by SKÖ. Each cell names its source; your manufacturer's own instructions come first.
Final check
Before you close the garage door
- Rinsed with fresh water, including rudder, cables and footbraces
- Drained and dry inside, hatches aired out
- Paddles, skirts and fins rinsed and dried separately
- Off the floor on padded supports, or hung hull up
- Out of direct sun and away from heat sources
- Outdoor tarp suspended, not touching or sagging onto the hull
- Inflatables dry and loosely rolled, or partly inflated
- Gaskets and hardware checked
Questions
Storage FAQ
Should I store my inflatable paddleboard rolled up or inflated?
Either can work, and manufacturers differ. Red Paddle Co recommends deflating and rolling loosely. REI says partly inflated at about 5 psi, stored like a hard board, can help prevent creases if you have the space. Follow your board's manual if it says otherwise.
Can I store a kayak outside over winter?
Yes, if it's sheltered and supported. REI lists under a deck, under the eaves or beneath a strung-up tarp as suitable spots. Keep it out of direct sun, off the ground, and make sure snow or rain can't pool on a cover and press on the hull.
What about my dry bags and waterproof bags?
Same rules: clean, fully dry and open before storage. See how to clean a waterproof TPU bag and why waterproof bags smell musty. If you're replacing one before spring, see how waterproof crossbody bags compare.
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