Canoe Storage & Maintenance: Do You Love Your Canoe?

How do canoe storage and maintenance ensure your new, shiny family canoe keeps making family memories for years?

Think of a canoe like a vehicle – where you park them and how you care for them directly impacts their lifespan. Storing and maintaining a canoe is really important – otherwise, your canoe will suffer hull warping, rotting, UV damage, and a host of potential damages that could ruin your investment.

We only recently parted with our 35-year-old family canoe (it was hard to say goodbye), but it went to a very happy young family, and it has many years left of life to share adventures! But we kept the younger turquoise sister, who is barely 30 years young 🙂

CANOE Storage Tips

• Consider the canoe length and see where it will fit with ease of access
• Indoor storage is the best option
• Store a canoe “upside down” resting on the gunwales
  • Do not store it flat on its bottom, on its side, hanging from its carry handles, or standing on one end
  • Web search “covered outdoor canoe storage” or “outdoor canoe rack” for DIY or purchase ideas
• Store it off the ground, such as on blocks or a canoe stand
• Keep it out of direct sunlight, as UV will eventually cause permanent damage
  • If a shaded spot isn’t a possibility, suspend a tough, weather-resistant tarp or cover above the hull or a canoe stand with a roof
  • DO NOT wrap the canoe or leave a cover right on the canoe, as moisture will seep in and can promote mold or fungal growth and will cause the wood to rot
• Spread the weight: support it along its length with padded cradles/blocks, or if hanging in your garage, then nylon straps along the curve of the hull (or on a canoe stand)
• Theft: sadly, this needs to be considered. Keep it stored somewhere out of view, and position it in a way that makes a grab and run difficult. Or, thread a weather-resistant cable through the thwart or handle and connect to a post/building/fence with a lock
• Extreme cold is not good for them, but sometimes that can’t be avoided if stored outdoors. Extreme heat also isn’t good, so keep away from heat sources like a furnace/hot water tank

Canoe storage products and ideas

OldTownCanoe has a helpful chart to know how far apart to mount the brackets/straps if hanging:

Credit to: Old Town Canoe see the website for more details

CANOE Maintenance

• We buff a UV/marine shield onto our canoe hull once a year
  • We suggest asking what to use on your particular canoe from the manufacturer, as this may vary depending on the composite material
• Maintain the wood pieces (if any) per the manufacturer’s instructions (re-coat with a clear coat or oil, depending on your canoe)