Kayak "Bag"????

Hi guys,
Today I was washing the kayaks and trying to figure out to store them. We don't have enough room in the garage, so they are on a "rack" of sorts outside. I need to find a way to keep bugs and critters out of them.

My WORST fear...paddling out on the water and seeing a giant black widow in the cockpit.

If there is anything that would make me flip over, that would be it (or a wasp nest).

I kill these suckers on a regular basis, and a kayak would be the perfect place for them to set-up shop. There are a dozen cracks and crevices they could hide in.
A while back I tried to make my own fabric cockpit covers, but it didn't work - the lip around the edge is too wide and the elastic band wouldn't stay. Today I tried to use pastic wrap to "seal" it over, but that didn't work so well either.....

If I could find a giant plastic bag, that would almost be perfect...I could fit the whole kayak inside and seal it up. I searched the forum and did see something about canvas covers....so that got me thinking! How could I make a giant canvas bag myself?

So do they sell anything like this already made? Anyone know what kind of fabric would be best for this kind of thing? I'm getting the old sewing machine out....

-Cherie

http://www.danuu.com/

-Allen

Thanks, Allen!!!!

-Cherie

If ur hatches are shut on a sot u should be fine, you should inspect your kayak before each launch anyways to insure no damage was caused in transit.

Depending on the types of boats you have, hatch and/or cockpit covers should be all you need, and are much cheaper than a kayak bag. You don't have to worry about the outside of the boat - you can just hose that off. Assuming you store your boats with the hatch covers off, just sew fitted cloth covers with bungee around the outer edge to keep the critters out. Then make a set for me, please!

I was looking on ebay and found these kayak storage bags. Price seems to be reasonable and I think it will do what you are looking for. Check it out:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FC504-CLEAR-PLASTIC-PROTECTIVE-COVER-BAG-FOR-SIT-IN-OR-SIT-ON-KAYAK-BOAT-CANOE-/190806057057?pt=US_Bed_and_Bed_Frames&var=490135870712&hash=item2c6ced6061

Ben

http://www.danuu.com/

-Allen

That was going to be my suggestion. The owner Nuana is great to deal with.

Giant tarp and bungee cords to secure it? 

We live in black widow heaven, apparently. They seem to be everywhere. Your post got me thinking since I just store our yaks on their side, on the ground, in our shop, which is usually open and has it's share of spiders there.  I have never found a black widow in/on any of our yaks in the 5-6 years we've had them. That is actually pretty weird, imo. I have found them in boots, under rocks, everywhere, but not in our yaks?

Maybe some small comfort while you look for a bag 

Here's a trick I've used on my wood pile.  After sitting all summer, it's chuck full of widows, snakes, even bats!  I cover the wood pile with a tarp, anchor the tarp down with some rocks, then toss a bug bomb under there.  Not the spray kind of bomb, but the type that require water to activate and that makes smoke.  The smoke will either kill or drive out anything living under there.  I would imagine this would work for kayaks too.  The bug bombs, called fumigators, are 3 to a box at Home Depot and I've seen them at WalMart too. 

We live in black widow heaven, apparently. They seem to be everywhere. Your post got me thinking since I just store our yaks on their side, on the ground, in our shop, which is usually open and has it's share of spiders there.  I have never found a black widow in/on any of our yaks in the 5-6 years we've had them. That is actually pretty weird, imo. I have found them in boots, under rocks, everywhere, but not in our yaks?

Maybe some small comfort while you look for a bag 

+1. I store my kayaks under a covered porch, but they are open to whatever bugs are cruising around. Rarely see a spider so I imagine they get blown off en route to the launch site.

I'd  expect to get spiders inside a canvas cover. They love the one I have over my woodpile, eeech!

I was looking on ebay and found these kayak storage bags. Price seems to be reasonable and I think it will do what you are looking for. Check it out:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FC504-CLEAR-PLASTIC-PROTECTIVE-COVER-BAG-FOR-SIT-IN-OR-SIT-ON-KAYAK-BOAT-CANOE-/190806057057?pt=US_Bed_and_Bed_Frames&var=490135870712&hash=item2c6ced6061

Ben

Thanks, Ben!
That was an interesting find! Great find, actually. I have some plastic sheeting.....

-Cherie

Depending on the types of boats you have, hatch and/or cockpit covers should be all you need, and are much cheaper than a kayak bag. You don't have to worry about the outside of the boat - you can just hose that off. Assuming you store your boats with the hatch covers off, just sew fitted cloth covers with bungee around the outer edge to keep the critters out. Then make a set for me, please!

I wish it would work...but on two of our cheaper kayaks, the edge isn't shaped enough/in a way that keeps the bungee in place. I did try to see if any place sold pre-made cockpit covers that fit, but alas, I had no luck.

-Cherie

We live in black widow heaven, apparently.   I have never found a black widow in/on any of our yaks in the 5-6 years we've had them. That is actually pretty weird, imo. I have found them in boots, under rocks, everywhere, but not in our yaks?

You know, that is strange that they have never been found in your yak.....but you know, I still wouldn't want to take a chance, haha. There is not enough room in our sit-inside boats for me to move fast enough to squish one, and heaven forbid I miss!

-Cherie

Here's a trick I've used on my wood pile.    The bug bombs, called fumigators, are 3 to a box at Home Depot and I've seen them at WalMart too.

You know, I used the same kind of method on a closed-up patio umbrella once....it had several wasp nests up inside of it, and there was no way I could open it safely and spray wasp killer. I took one of those bombs, pulled the tab, and placed it on the table under one of the open pleats. I then ran to my car, jumped inside, and watched as a ton of wasps began falling out of it!

-Cherie