How to Ship a Kayak

With so many different styles of kayaking growing more and more popular, paddlers can be found across the country, wherever there is suitable water. However, like many other outdoor sports, prime kayak adventure conditions may not be right at your front door and may require travel. Hauling a kayak to local water can be a chore at times, and shipping long distances may seem even more daunting. However, getting your kayak to a travel destination may not be as difficult as you might think.

Things You'll Need

  • Calculator
  • Bubble wrap
  • Blankets
  • Shipping tape
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the dimensional weight of your boat. The formula for this in pounds is to multiply length times width time height and divide that number by 194 ({L x W x H}/194). Be sure to measure at the widest and tallest points of your kayak. The resulting number is the pounds dimensional weight, which will be necessary to calculate the cost per pound for shipping.

    • 2

      Choose a freight forwarding or cargo shipping company that will accept the size and dimensional weight of your boat. Popular shipping avenues such as UPS, Federal Express and the United States Postal Service often will not ship or cannot handle items as large as a kayak. Companies that have consistently and safely shipped kayaks include Pilot Air, Forward Air and FreightQuote. Major commercial airlines will most likely accept your kayak as cargo, depending on its size and your destination.

    • 3

      Wrap and protect your kayak. A cockpit cover along with lots of bubble wrap may be your best bet. Blankets are good protection but will add further bulk and weight to your total.

    • 4

      Leave the packaging open and accessible if you are using an airline to ship your kayak. Your boat will need to be searched prior to loading. It is now Transportation and Security Administration regulation that 100% of all domestic cargo (as well as passenger luggage) be screened. Bring a tape gun with you to finish sealing after inspection. For other shipping options, it is okay to seal your packaging materials.

    • 5

      Call your chosen shipping company to arrange to a pickup time and location for the kayak.