Paddling a canoe around a pond or lake is an idyllic way to spend a day. You’d probably like to be cruising around in your canoe more days than not, but real life gets in the way sometimes. To make sure your canoe is always ready when the opportunity comes up to get out on the water, it’s important to create a smart storage strategy.
To keep your canoe in great condition, it’s best to store it under a roof. Keeping the elements off your canoe when it is not in use will protect its finish and help you get the longest possible lifespan out of this small vessel. Read more about how to properly store a canoe.
For an affordable and durable shelter, turn to the helpful team at American Carports, Inc. You can customize our designs with our Build & Price tool and it’s easy to contact us if you have any questions.
The Golden Rule
No matter where you are going to store your canoe, there is one golden rule that you should always follow – your canoe should be stored upside down. This might seem a little odd at first but storing your canoe upside down is the best option to preserve its condition well into the future.
The reason for storing your canoe upside down is to keep the weight of the boat from flattening out the hull over time. If the canoe sits for a long period, such as throughout the winter, the hull could become deformed if the boat was sitting right side up. Turning it over will take the pressure off the hull and allow your canoe to maintain its proper shape as the years go by.
If you simply turn your canoe over while it is on the ground, you are going to notice something right away – it won’t stay in place. The deck at the stern and the bow will be the only parts touching the ground, and the boat will simply fall to one side or another. For this reason, you need a rack to get the canoe off the ground. A rack will allow the gunwales to support the canoe, which is perfect because those are the strongest parts of the vessel.
Finding – or Creating – Inside Space
While canoes are made to perform outside, leaving yours outside throughout the year is going to mean trouble for its condition. The elements are sure to wear on the boat if it is left out in the open for extended periods. If possible, finding an indoor space to store your canoe would do wonders for its longevity. Even if you can’t get it fully indoors, storing it under the roof of a carport or lean-to would still make a great choice.
You can start to look for indoor storage space by turning to your garage. However, given the size of the average canoe, and how much stuff may already be in your garage, this option could be a no-go. If you need to create a new storage space, American Carports, Inc. is the perfect partner for the project. We can offer you competitive prices on metal structures from small carports all the way up to large garages. It will be easy to design and construct a durable metal building when you work with our experienced team.
Other Important Notes
Let’s touch on a few other important notes on how to store a canoe before we wrap this up:
- Put it away clean. It’s important to properly clean your canoe before it goes into storage for an extended time. Even though it is used in water, your canoe will be surprisingly dirty if you have been using it frequently. The dirt and grime that has accumulated on the hull can do damage to the finish if it’s not cleaned off before you store the boat.
- Perform maintenance in advance. If your canoe requires any specific maintenance work, as is often the case with wooden vessels, be sure to do that work before the storage season. This will leave the canoe in good condition and ready to hit the water in the spring.
- Check in occasionally. During the time of year when your boat is stored away, make it a point to check in from time to time to make sure things look okay. Take a peek inside the canoe to confirm that no little critters have taken up a home, as they could do serious damage if left alone.
Make Life a Little Easier
We hope this gave you a better look on how to store a canoe. Even something small like not having a good storage plan for your canoe can make life a little harder. When stored improperly, the canoe might not be ready for your next trip, adding some time-consuming maintenance or repair work before you can go out on the water. Also, you might need to replace the boat sooner than you would have needed to otherwise. Avoid these negative outcomes by contacting American Carports, Inc. today to order your new metal building!
