How To Load A Kayak By Yourself
Have you ever gone to load your kayak by yourself, only to find that it’s too heavy and unwieldy to lift?
Or maybe you’ve managed to get it onto your car, but then discover that there’s no way you can tie it down by yourself?
Never fear! With a little planning and some helpful tips, loading your kayak solo can be a snap.
In this blog post, we’ll share our top tips for loading a kayak by yourself – so you can hit the water with confidence. Let’s get started!
How Do You Load A Kayak By Yourself?
Loading a kayak is a very important part of learning how to paddle. If you don’t get it right from the start, you might never master the art of paddling.
You should always practice loading a kayak before going out into the water. This way, you’ll know exactly where to put each piece of equipment.
This article will demonstrate how to load a kayak properly. You may have to try several times until you get it right but if you follow our steps, then you’ll be able to load a kayak easily.
The best thing about loading a kayak is that once you’ve done it, you won’t forget how to do it again. It’s really easy!
The first thing you need to remember about loading a kayak by yourself is that it is vitally important that you understand the size and weight of your kayak.
Most kayaks range from between 40 to 80lbs or 18 to 36 kg. This means that you have to be aware of the weight of your kayak before you start lifting it yourself.
If you are confident that you can easily lift a sizeable object in that weight scale on your own by yourself then that’s not a problem.
However, if you aren’t certain whether you could lift a kayak in that broad weight class on your own then it is best to weigh your kayak to check how much it exactly weighs.
Once you know its exact weight then you will be able to be much more confident about whether you can easily lift it.
One thing you must also consider is not just whether you can lift your kayak, but can you lift it across a significant distance.
If you can’t lift and carry your kayak from, say the river where you have been using it back to your car or transport by yourself then you should seek the help of others.
It is also worth considering the exact design of your kayak before you lift it and attempt to load it.
Whilst kayaks are generally of a similar size, it is important that you ensure that you know what the dimensions of the kayak are in relation to your transport vehicle.
The reason for this is that if the kayak doesn’t fit properly then you won’t be able to load it onto your vehicle and transport it in any meaningful way which might hamper your trip to the water.
Once you have considered all these factors it is time to actually load the kayak.
First, make sure when you are lifting your kayak that you do so with your arms and legs working in close coordination – the reason for this is because when you are lifting it you need to distribute the weight equally around your body.
People often assume that when you are lifting a heavy object that you need to be able to just lift it with your upper body, but this isn’t the case – if you can’t use your lower body strength as well then it will become much more difficult to move it.
Once you have lifted it (ideally with your arms gripping on to the side or to the seat section) then you should be able to quickly and carefully take it to your car or other form of transport.
Once you have loaded on to the top of your car or onto the back of your SUV or pickup truck, then you need to be certain that it won’t fall off when you are travelling.
To do this you will need some tight rope. Whilst it is also possible to use other materials, rope is also the best material to use because it is easier to tie and untie when you want to use it.
Make sure that you are entirely sure that the rope is tight enough before you set off to ensure that your kayak doesn’t suddenly slide off mid-journey.
In fact, it is well worth attempting to drive when you have properly attached the kayak to the back of your vehicle to ensure that when you are driving you can be certain that your kayak won’t slip off and cause an accident.
Final Thoughts
Owning a kayak can open you up to a true world of adventure. It can ensure that you get to travel to places you wouldn’t have previously thought was possible.
Kayaking can give you a new insight into the great nature that exists in the United States and give you a true appreciation for it all.
However, if you own a kayak and don’t know how to properly carry it by yourself or to load it onto your car or van then you have a problem.
Being able to use a kayak is about being able to have a degree of self-sufficiency; of being at one with nature and not tied to anyone else.
So, it is essential that you know how to properly move a kayak and understand how to ensure it is safely loaded onto the back of your transportation.
Take the self-sufficient ethic that is core to owning a kayak and make sure you fully embrace it by being able to properly load a kayak as easily and effectively as you would change a tire. You will feel much better once you are able to do that.
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