Kayak maintenance & storage tips

Here is a short video about kayak storage condition & care after each fishing trip. I have included a short write-up about salt-water fishing & storage below as well.

Source: http://www.plentypupule.com/care.htm

The plastic (polyethylene) kayaks are really easy as far as care and maintenance. Salt water won't hurt the plastic but you'll want to wash them off with fresh water (after every trip) to make sure the straps rivets, stainless screws and assorted hardware stay in good shape for many years to come. The plastic is very durable and should get many years of use even if you regularly drag the boat up the beach.

There is one seriously detrimental factor relating to the life of your kayak and that is the UV from the sun. The kayak will not last long if allowed to bake in the sun every day for months or years on end. It will become brittle and crack.

Take care when purchasing a used kayak. If the owner allowed it to bake in the sun if may have lost half or most of it's useful life regardless of how little it was actually paddled and may have a shortened lifespan even if the seller is advertising it as a new kayak (awaiting sale sitting in the sun) and it has never been out on the water. If a the kayak is stored out of the sun, it can be expected to last 10-15 years or longer as long as one uses a bit of care as you enter or exit the coast in rugged (rocky) areas.