Water Adventures

9 Things to Do Before Putting Your Kayak or SUP Away for Winter

Kayaks and paddleboards wear out in storage, not on the water. Nine things to do in one October afternoon so the boat that comes out in April is the one that went in: rinse the salt from the parts you cannot see, dry the inflatable inflated, repair now, loosen everything under tension, store off the keel and out of the sun, care for paddles, pumps and buoyancy aids, and put the electronics and batteries in a sealed case indoors. Plus what differs by boat type, where the boat lives for five months, winter paddling, seven mistakes and a checklist.