I'm a member in several kayaking groups. I asked a question on the possibility of UV damage to my kayaks.

(Question)
How much direct sunlight can damage a kayak? The reason I ask is that I store mine outside, they receive several hours of morning sunlight, is that too much sun? I thinking of buying 2 large tarps to protect them.

Now the answers I received from those in the kayaking groups.

Exposure everyday will quickly wear down the plastic and fade your boats out....also watch out how you store them, try to store them upright if possible....

UV degrades plastics. So, any amount will be harmfull. I would protect them with the tarp. Tarps are pretty cheap relative to a new boat. I work for a company that manufactures plastics and have talked to our technical people about this.

I'm contemplating making a sleeve out of a tarp to cover mine. I have found that you can get a painters tarp reasonablly from the paint store, so it is just a matter of time before I make one for it (going to buy some elastic cord for it to sew in seam around the outside edges).

Use a Protectant, I can't recall the brand name, but it's 303 at least twice a year if you're going to leave the kayaks out in the sun. I do it at the beginning of the season and at the end.
303 Protectant

UV 'can' damage almost everything. I had a old abs blue hole canoe a few years back that hit a rock in the stern and at first didn't think and thing of it. But we seem to be shipping a lot more water than normal. Turned out the abs had become brittle and had cracked.

Thanks to everybody that answered my question!!!

Now what I do know.
Awhile back I made the mistake of applying Armor All. When the kayak got wet is was like trying to hold onto a greased pig.
I went to the local Wal-Mart & in the Sporting Goods Dept. I found RainX Marine Protectant. It leaves no slick residue & so far seems to do the trick.
I now have the kayaks covered with a 10'x10' tarp.

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