When properly taken care of, a whitewater raft can last anywhere from 10 to 25 years depending on material type and frequency of use. The single most important factor for the longevity of your boat is proper whitewater raft storage. When it comes to storing rafts, we live by three guidelines at Colorado Kayak Supply: keep out of direct sunlight, control the temperature, and treat gently.
Store The Raft Away from Direct Sunlight
Especially in high altitude areas, direct sunlight can degrade the material of your boat over time and bleach out colors. Keep your raft out of direct sunlight as often as possible, including when storing your boat for long periods of time.
Reduce Temperature Fluctuations
If your boat is stored inflated, choose an area that does not commonly experience large temperature fluctuations. If your air inside your air chambers gets too hot, it can cause over-pressurization that can damage your chambers, seams, and valves over time.
Inflatables are Delicate when Deflated
Inflation pressure is very important to the durability of PVC or Hypalon boats. Think of the ability to deflate an inflatable boat and roll it up as a feature or convenience, but one that must be properly managed. When your boat is deflated and rolled up, it is especially prone to potential damage from abrasion.
CKS Online Pro Tip: To move a rolled boat, always lift it and set it down; never drag it or roll it around.
Bearing the above guidelines in mind, there are several proper ways to store a whitewater raft depending on the size of the storage space available to you, and whether you have a trailer or not.
The Best Way to Store Your Raft
If you want to store your whitewater raft properly, you should keep your raft:
- in your garage
- on a trailer
- 10-15 feet away from any major heat source (like garage heaters)
- away from large windows
This covers most of your bases for keeping your boat safe, but it might mean your car lives in the driveway instead!
The Second Best Way to Store Your Raft
If you don’t have a garage, or your vehicles take garage priority over your boat, the next best plan is to store your raft:
- outside
- on a trailer
- under a full-coverage and well-secured tarp
- on the North side of a building or under tall trees where it is shaded all day
You do run the risk of something falling on your boat from above and your boat being exposed to rain/snow, but it’s a risk you’ll have to take if indoor storage is a no-go.
CKS Online Pro Tip: If storing inflated & outdoors during winter months, you might store it flipped upside down so snow doesn’t pile up inside of your boat.
What If I Don't Have a Raft Trailer?
No Trailer? You can store your raft on the ground, but you might consider putting a tarp down or something to keep it cleaner.
Storage on the ground isn’t ideal, but trailers are expensive. The biggest issue with storing your boat on the ground is that you invite rodents or insects to move in underneath your raft.
A Word About Inflation
If you want to store your boat inflated, store it at positive pressure - the boat should not be wrinkly, but not tight either. The raft should be inflated just enough that it can be picked up and moved around without sagging or dragging on the ground, but compresses easily if you push your fist against one of the tubes. This leaves enough room pressure-wise for increases and decreases due to anticipated changes in temperature.
The Third Best Way to Store Your Raft
If you don’t have the real-estate, whether it's outside or inside, to store your raft inflated, then the next best move is to:
- deflate your raft
- roll up your raft
- store it in a covered area
In some situations this is better for the boat than storing it outdoors.
A Word About Rolling Your Raft
When rolling a raft for storage, consider the fact that rolling it tightly may leave some marks in the material where valves or D-rings imprinted against the boat material. It is ideal to roll a boat as loosely as possible while still being able to maintain control of the roll when you (and hopefully a friend) are moving it around. Wrapping the rolled boat in a thick tarp, or storing it in a boat bag will limit potential damage to the boat while it’s rolled and keep it from getting dirty. Lastly, if you choose to store a boat rolled up, make sure to close the valves when you have completely finished deflating the boat. This will keep moisture in the air from making its way into your air chambers and promoting mildew growth.