Transportation of My Kayak - What Is the Best Method?

Kayaking gives you a unique experience that you will not find with other types of watercraft. For our family, we love to quietly move around in the water encountering wildlife and dolphins. There is something to be said about being at the lowest level on the water experiencing the wonders around. Kayaking has become a recreational sport to our family but for others it is much more serious. Whether you use your kayak to race, photograph or fish there is simply no question that every kayak enthusiast needs a way to transport their kayak.
The method of transportation will depend on the size, shape and type of your kayak as well as what type of vehicle you are driving. Roof racks can be strenuous. The bed of a pickup truck can be time consuming with bungee cords and straps. Needless to say, most Kayak enthusiasts rely on trailers out of sheer convenience. Some of you might live directly on a large body of water but most of us will have to settle for living miles away from a great paddling spot. For those of us in the latter position, let's take a look at the different options that are available for moving these craft to a paddlers paradise.
If you only have 1 or 2 kayaks then there are a couple of options available: Roof racks and Trailers. However, more than 2 kayaks will require a kayak trailer. Since the loading of your kayak and transport can make for the largest challenge, you might lean towards a trailer if you can afford to. Most of the Kayak Trailers are designed to be stored in small areas in a vertical position. When you are not using them, you can stand them up against a wall or the back of your garage. They don't have to be an eyesore in the front of your yard.
Something else to keep in mind that you might overlook is a kayak cart. The roof rack or trailer system is designed to get you within walking distance of your water destination, the cart is used to easily pull the kayak to the waters edge. These are reasonably priced and most are designed to fold and fit in the storage compartment of your kayak. This also makes it nice if you plan to camp at a different location than where you started your kayaking adventure because you can easily cart your kayak directly to your campsite.
There are a few really good manufacturers for kayak transport systems: Malone, Yakima and Trailex. While Malone and Yakima are the most popular choice for the consumer market, Trailex is geared more towards the transportation of up to 16 kayaks at one time. Like many enthusiasts, you will most likely be interested in the Malone or Yakima brands.
As you can see, the importance of transporting your kayak is essential. Picking out just the right method will make planning your kayak trips a lot easier and convenient.