FS Digest

My house has no garage and no space inside to store it, storing it outside is not possible as I live in the city, and stealing is frequent.

However I do have a crawlspace under the house about 4ft tall, where it is flat and open on the inside, ive heard your not supposed to lay them flat, so is there some way I could utilize the space under my house without wrecking my new yak?

--
by eriF-

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

I have seen folks build a short, small, simple "rack" from lumber that can be discreetly set up next to the house, and then they cable lock the kayak to it as a deterrent to theft. Unless your crawl space is super easy to access and slip a kayak in and out of I would refrain from storing it there. You might use it less if getting it out and onto your vehicle is a pain in the neck. You might consider some sort of "roller" system if you do proceed that way.

Regarding problems with storing them "flat", I've never heard of that. I store my kayak indoors on a flat shelf and have never had an issue with hull deformation. If you do build a rack outside, just be sure that the bottom of the hull is well supported.

I would recommend getting a combing cover if your kayak is a traditional design (to keep rain and critters out). If it is a sit on top style then keeping weather out is usually no big deal.

Elefantdude Loc: Oxnard, CA

I used to store my kayaks inside my condo. Built a pulley system so I was able to mount it to the ceiling :-) One was in our master bedroom and the other was over the french doors leading out to our patio.

Gmckayak Loc: Missouri

All you have to do is tip it up on the side. The reason you don't lay it flat for very long is because it can reshape the bottom curve. Even when most kayaks lose original shape some time in the hot sun will fix them if not layed flat.