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Using Boat Covers
(discussion from facebook Surfski Kayak group 2/1/2023)
Surfski Kayak
Darthe Boll ·
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Thoughts on travel bags for prolonged rooftop trips of your surfski. I have seen comments from people on both sides of the topic.
Side 1- you need to protect from road and bug debris
Side 2- The flapping of a travel bag causes rash to the finish of your surfski. If you have a higher end layup, don't use a travel bag.
Thoughts?
Johnnie Ortiz
Jeremy Vore can give good advice. Full disclosure,his family makes boat bags but he can give very knowledgeble information on proper fit.
https://redleafdesigns.com/
RedLeaf Designs | Custom Canoe and Kayak Covers
Johnnie Ortiz
David Ahmed
The only reason I would ever use a ski cover is for sun protection , especially for a black carbon lay-up ski. The risk from road debris is minimal unless you are travelling on dirt roads .
Ian Thomas
Yep, I agree with this comment completely
Merrill Johnson
David Ahmed me too
Robert Bertelli
I just hauled mine from Phoenix to San Diego and back without a cover. Although it was ok, i would have preferred having it protected with a good fitting cover.
Brad Fothergill
I bag my paddleboards as they have a large frontal area. But they wear from the flap, even with a custom bag (especially bad when in rain)
Drive from Canada to Florida with no bag on the ski and never the slightest issues.
In the end, it’s whatever gives you peace of mind.
Julie Mitravich
I have made “sleeves” for mine out of stretchable fabric, it works really well and doesn’t flap.
Kjell Lundgren
A stretch ”boat sock” for racing K2 works fine and is cheap.
David Morrison
I just drove 2,500 kms on a New Zealand paddling road trip. Normally don't use a bag but borrowed one for this. It had a felt inner lining which protected the gel coat. I definitely felt a bit happier with the bag when going through roadworks and gravel roads.
Andrew Webber
Another vote for a boat sock… or whatever they are called.
Tight fitting and soft, with a vinyl nose cone.
I don't use it locally, but if I'm going to be driving for more than an hour or so.
Did a couple of thousand kms on a Tasmania trip in January, roads on the West coast have a lot of fine particulate that hangs in the air.
Whether that sandblasts the boat or not isn't as important to me as all of that silica getting into and around my foot pedals and into the rudder cable holes….
Ian Rayfield
Just put a plastic bag over the front to stop bug splatter held with some electrical tape. Simples.
Jed Friedrichsen
I use a travel bag for my black Epic V10 S GT for longer road trips. I don't use it when driving to local lakes and rivers. It protects the boat from the sun and bugs, and it gives me a sense of safety. The boat has not suffered road rash. As I am writing this, I think I should order a bag for my OC 1.
Johnnie Ortiz
Jed Friedrichsen Where will you get yours? I just might be in the market for one myself.
Kimberly Riggle
My boats live on top of my van so I use bags, although I have also had the boats up there without anything. I haven't noticed any I'll effects from bag use, although I'm switching one of them out since it doesn't drain and isn't actually waterproof as advertised. Also some of the bags I tried disintegrated pretty quick due to UV. I did get a large chip in one of my boats that I think was from the road (probably from a dump truck or something) but I can't be sure it wasn't from something else. I've gotten the red leaf bags mentioned earlier and it still looks great after 6 months in the sun (a different bag didn't last that long) so shop carefully if you buy one. I have had more ill effects from UV then the bags for sure. I'd probably skip the bags if I stored the boats inside though.
Patricia Kelly
Love em
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