Kayak Storage Outdoors Through The Winter?

Michael Daly wrote:
> (PeteCresswell) wrote:
>
>> Is it worth the time?
>
>
> There's nothing wrong with leaving it outside, I'd prefer to let it
> breathe a lot more than wrapping it in astroturf. Cover it with a
> plastic tarp but make sure that the tarp is held off the kayak and the
> kayak is held off the ground. Leave the hatch covers off and cover the
> hatch and cockpit openings with bug-proof mesh. Metal window screen
> mesh might prevent critters from homesteading.
>
>> How about the tape delam? Freezing/thawing cycles?
>
> Resins absorb water and can freeze/thaw I suppose. It would be good to
> make sure the kayak is dry. If you paddle all winter, you might have a
> problem, but I've never heard of anyone having similar. I've never
> heard of delams caused by freeze/thaw - skis are made of fiberglass
> too. It could be the delam was the result of some other problem.

Delamination is a common problem with skis, so I wouldn't be too quick
to use the fact that skis are made out of fiberglass as proof of
anything. That said, the reason skis delaminate is usually due to over
flexing (i.e. abuse) not cold.

I agree with the rest of your post - keep it dry (water + freeze/thaw
cycle == problems), keep the UV off of it, and fiberglass will be fine
in the cold.

//Walt
 >> Stay informed about: Kayak Storage Outdoors Through The Winter? 

Most materials only have problems with "sudden" or too quick temp changes.


"(PeteCresswell)" <x.RemoveThis@y.Invalid> wrote in message
news:3q28h25dd3s4fa6kfnp3bmfc0q9pr5p43u@4ax.com...
> Had been storing my surf ski in the back yard all year long - rolled up in
some
> Astroturf-type outdoor carpeting.
>
> After about five years, the fiberglass tape covering the deck/hull seam
started
> delaminating and had to be replaced. Other than that, I couldn't see any
> negative consequences of the outdoor storage.
>
> Now I've got a new surf kayak that *could* fit in the garage with a little
work
> and I'm wondering if it's worth the effort to make space for it for winter
> storage.
>
> Is it worth the time? How about the tape delam? Freezing/thawing
cycles?
> --
> PeteCresswell
 >> Stay informed about: Kayak Storage Outdoors Through The Winter? 

On Fri, 22 Sep 2006 15:33:44 -0400, Michael Daly <michaeldaly DeleteThis @foo.bar>
wrote:

> Cover it with a plastic tarp but make
>sure that the tarp is held off the kayak and the kayak is held off the ground.

Lots and lots of emphasis on this. Something between the tarp and the
'yak so that the condensation can't form there and be kept there is
very good.
--

r.bc: vixen
Speaker to squirrels, willow watcher, etc..
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless. Really.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli
 >> Stay informed about: Kayak Storage Outdoors Through The Winter? 

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
> Had been storing my surf ski in the back yard all year long - rolled up in some
> Astroturf-type outdoor carpeting.

There's no need to wrap it up, just protect it from sun, allow good
airflow around it, keep the critters out of the cockpit and don't allow
water to accumulate in it. All that can be done with a simple covered
rack. I have pics of one in a Webshots album at:

http://community.webshots.com/user/brian_nystrom-reg

The rack shown is much larger than you need, but the basic design is
easy to scale to any size.

> After about five years, the fiberglass tape covering the deck/hull seam started
> delaminating and had to be replaced. Other than that, I couldn't see any
> negative consequences of the outdoor storage.

It's far more likely that the delamination is due to the use and abuse a
surf kayak suffers than due to storing it outside.
>
> Now I've got a new surf kayak that *could* fit in the garage with a little work
> and I'm wondering if it's worth the effort to make space for it for winter
> storage.
>
> Is it worth the time?

You have to make that call. The boat will be cleaner and better
protected from the elements. Is it worth it to you?

> How about the tape delam?

See my comments above.

> Freezing/thawing cycles?

That would have no effect as long as the boat isn't constantly wet and
water is not allowed to accumulate inside it. Simply freezing and
thawing fiberglass has no detrimental effect on it.
 >> Stay informed about: Kayak Storage Outdoors Through The Winter? 

Per Brian Nystrom:
>the basic design

Why the long ridge pole?

Ease of moving the rack?
--
PeteCresswell
 >> Stay informed about: Kayak Storage Outdoors Through The Winter? 

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
> Per Brian Nystrom:
>> the basic design
>
> Why the long ridge pole?
>
> Ease of moving the rack?

No, to support the tarp shown in the last photos. The boats are
completely covered and protected from the elements.
 >> Stay informed about: Kayak Storage Outdoors Through The Winter? 

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
> Had been storing my surf ski in the back yard all year long - rolled up in some
> Astroturf-type outdoor carpeting.
>
> After about five years, the fiberglass tape covering the deck/hull seam started
> delaminating and had to be replaced. Other than that, I couldn't see any
> negative consequences of the outdoor storage.
>
> Now I've got a new surf kayak that *could* fit in the garage with a little work
> and I'm wondering if it's worth the effort to make space for it for winter
> storage.
>
> Is it worth the time? How about the tape delam? Freezing/thawing cycles?
> --
> PeteCresswell

If there has been no problems in the past I shouldn't worry. The two
main problems are usually snow load and moisture. Whn snow accuulates
on the hull it abosrbs rian and meltwater during a thaw, turns to ice,
builds up, and the weight deforms teh hull if it's not well supported.
Water collects on the underside of the hull, mostly along the gunwales
on canoes, where it runs off the hull and drips off onto the ground.
That's how wooden gunwales rot out mostly. In your case none of this
sounds like a problem. You're more likely to get chalking of a
fibreglass surface from sun exposure.
 >> Stay informed about: Kayak Storage Outdoors Through The Winter?