surfski novice

I moved into a smaller house with a garage that is not big enough to store a 22' surfski. Here is how I properly stored my ski outdoors without sun or moisture damage in sunny high humidity Florida. I looked online and all the covers seem so expensive. I thought about it alot & finally got the perfect solution.  I picked up an industrial thickness white vinyl tarp cover.  Don't use the cheaper home depot variety.  Get the high quality thick industrial stuff in white.  I cut it in strips so that I could cover several boats.  I also found a silver/gray elasticized gray boat cover which someone got rid of (likely for a 20 foot boat) which I lay over the white vinyl.  Two layers of protection.  How fortunate!  Its elastic ends fit perfectly over my surfski. I use 4 straps to keep the cover firmly in place in high winds.  I store it in the shade of the trees and pool screen to keep it cool.  Finall...

2012 Treasure Island Classic This year's race even more fun.  We raced during Hurricane Sandy which was heading up the eastern seaboard.  The waves on the gulf side of the island were really kicked up with 3-4 foot breakers in John's Pass.  The race organizer decided on race day to offer 2 options to paddlers.  Instead of circumnavigating the island as in previous years, we were offered 2 courses.  One would take the usual route around the island and the other would race back and forth between bridges in the intercoastal side.  The participation was far less this year.  Kyle Reid, the record holder, split his surfski in half the day before on the east coast so he was absent.  Many paddlers decided it was still too rough.  Some test paddled the course and packed it up.  Only a handful of paddlers attempted the courses.  Rob and Karen paddled the outside course and the rest of us paddled the intercoastal route.  I...

Why are surfski drying stands $90 each?!!! Spend money on a good surfski and paddle but look for more economical options for things like stands. Here are some suggestions I used that work just as well for alot less: 1) DIY Storage Stand: (folds for travel) My first kayak drying stand was a DIY made of 2" PVC, leftover nylon straps, two bolts with nuts and stainless steel screws. It cost me $15 total to make 2 and I still use them today. The funny thing is the local kayak shops all use this same type stand in their store. It's so strong that a curious teen actually sat in my surfski on the stand before I realized and told him to get off. My suggestion is use 2 nylon straps top and two bottom. I would place the screws as far out to the side as possible to avoid scratching your ski. I didn't remember to do that when building mine so I plasti-dip coated the screws to be safe. 2) DIY Travel Stand: (folds into thin carry size) Just like the expensive stands use 4 poles. You can ...