Congratulations on finishing the Coho!

The "store it on the side" and "store it on end" lest the boat deform is an issue related to plastic kayaks, which are very susceptible to getting bent out of shape (last summer I spotted a plastic kayak pulled into a definite downward curve at each end because its owner had tied it down too tight, bow & stern, to a roof rack....and the fact that it was a hot summer day accelerated the process.)

So-- if possible, store your boat inside (but if you do end up storing it outdoors with tarp, don't wrap it tightly -- a lot of heat can build up-- not good). If you've got space in a garage, hanging it from a ceiling would be fine. For my Artic Tern, I got two 12 foot long, wide nylon webbing straps from the auto supply store (truckers tie downs), which I looped over the rafters and hooked together (these have an S hook on each end, plus a ratchet cam, so the strap can be hooked to itself (without having to thread the strap through cam buckle--), and then tightened to shorten the strap & raise the boat out of the way. I've got the straps placed relatively close to the cockpit so that they support the boat more toward the middle, rather than the ends. I have the boat right-side-up, and store it with the hatch compartments open.

--Julie

: I do have two final questions though (at least for now ): - what's the best
: way to store a wooden kayak? I do have Yak Straps, in which I used to hang
: my plastic boat (on its side, and then with a plastic tarp wrapped over
: it). I noticed that after two or three weeks hanging, the "down"
: side of the plastic boat would start to bulge in (the plastic yak was 56
: lbs, and 15' long; a Perception Carolina).

: Should I hang my Coho on its side? Or should I build some type of frame which
: supports the bottom chines, and holds the Coho upright?

: And, should I store the Coho inside during the winter? (I'm assuming yes,
: especially since it's not yet varnished). And, should it be stored upright
: during the long winter months?

: TIA