Kayak storage?

We are new to RV travel but long time sea kayakers. We have cartopped our kayaks all along the East Coast, from Canada to Florida. In considering a class C rv as a retirement plan, being able to kayak as we traveled was an essential part of making it work. We already had an Innova Sunny inflatable. It is a high end inflatable which can set up as a single or double. We have used it in ocean and lake settings for up to 6 or 8 mile trips, but it doesn't compare with our hard shell sea kayaks (or offer the safety of spray skirts, etc.)
We mail ordered a Trak kayak for test paddling. They have a 30 day return policy, It was great. The Trak Seeker ST16 is a skin on frame performance kayak. Sets up in about 10 minutes and performs likea hard shell. After a short test paddle side by side with our carbon/kevlar sea kayaks, we were sold. On another day I paddled with a buddy and we did a 14 mile non-stop trip. Well, we have 2 of them now and the rv is arriving this month. Check out their web site for videos showing them in use around the world in all sorts of conditions. We are looking forward to using them around the US and Canada. i'll be happy to answer questions or even let you take a look at one if you are around western Connecticut.
web site is www.trakkayaks.com

Mike
Winnebago view...arriving soon
Trak Seeker ST16 (a pair)

As a long time paddler, hauling a hard shell yak with a RV is difficult. I purchased the SeaEagle Razor 393RL and I'm very impressed with it's performance. Been there/done that with the AdvancedElements inflatables (Yukon was my fav) but they have too many fill valves and are heavy. The Razor at 13'10" length is about 30lbs and just a bit slower in speed compared to my sea kayak, P&H Capella 16.5" so the speed of the inflatable is pretty amazing. Fill time with a hand pump is 8-10 minutes. While I love my Capella and my Malibu X-13 sit on, the Sea Eagle RazorLite solved our RV transport issue. We also have a Saturn Ocean Pro inflatable at 14' and it's another excellent inflatable (tandem or single) and made very well with a raised off the water drop stitch floor with self draining scupper holes for rough water(pumps up hard) and with Halkey (3)valves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxfFM790Vbg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk6UWUr7tBc

This is our first stowage of our kayaks on the Tardis. the problem is it covered our solar panels making them useless except when we had them off the roof.


This was our answer to the problem for us. A 3 section, snap together kayak made by (Point 65). It can be a single or double,as needed.

I've actually stored my 14.5' kayak inside my C a couple times when I've gone solo. Put it in and out through the back window over the bed. Just make sure it doesn't fall over and block the bathroom door when you're inside. Don't ask me how I know.



Most of the time the kayaks or our canoe go on the racks on top of our 14' trailer. Inside are our Harleys (which we prefer over our car as a toad), our mountain bikes, and other extra gear we want to take.



The trailer solves a lot of storage issues for us on an extended trips.

Don't forget foldables. We have a folboat we take on planes. We also have a Klepper 2 seater. Haven't see a reasonable way to carry a hard shell other then on a toad.

I have an Innova inflatable, the Sunny model. Very tough material. When deflated and folded up out of sight, out of mind.

Use(d) a dual 2" receiver - top got the 4-bike rack, bottom took a Hitch-Haul carrier, which held the Sevylor inflatable canoe. Used that system for 80k miles or more on our "B". Now with the "B+", rigged Suby Forester as a toad, hard boat carries on its roof rack. Cheaper to set up the Suby as a toad than buy the Thule trailer!!! if not taking the toad, hitch system goes back on for bikes and boat. ST

Regarding trailers, one can put cross bar on a utility trailer and anything that will mount to cross bars can go on top of the trailer. I just U bolted two tubes across and I can carry 4 bikes on top of mine on Thule carriers. Kayaks would just need the appropriate saddles.

We have an Advanced Elements Convertible inflatable set up as a tandem. It all packs up into a 60# bag and can ride inside the RV. We've had it for about 4 years now. Several of our friends now have them too. It's been a great boat in warm weather and not so warm.

I have LOTS of hardside kayaks, and if I needed them, hauled them in a 6 x 12' utility trailer behind the MH. Otherwise, I bought an inflatable Sea Eagle FastTrak 135, which can either be paddled solo or tandem. It handles great, on a lake or a river; and when folded up, fit in the space between the dinette seats.