Life can be frustrating if you never find something interesting to take your mind off of work, and just enjoy yourself for a day or two.
Unfortunately, staying at home and watching a movie, or just sleeping does not work for most people. That is where water sports, such as kayaking, come in.
In this article, we are going to look at how you can choose the best cart for your kayak, so that you won’t get tired while carrying it to the water. They’re also great for those hard to reach areas, where you have to walk a longer distance.
The Cart’s Balance
The main reason why you would want a kayak cart is to carry your kayak as close enough to the water as possible. In that regard, you are obviously going to get to a point where the ground is not very even.
The last thing you want is for the cart to be toppled by a pebble or small rock. A well balanced kayak cart has a center of gravity that is low enough to offer stability, even when rolling on uneven surfaces.
The best way to estimate how stable the cart is is to check how the kayak rests on it. If the wheels are two close to each other, then it probably is not very stable. A longer spacing between the wheels will offer more stability.
The Wheels
This one may seem obvious, but it is not. One may easily choose to overlook the type of wheel the kayak cart has, because there does not seem to be much variety.
However, you have to consider the advantages of inflatable wheels against foam-stuffed wheels. Generally, foam-stuffed wheels tend to be expensive, but they offer a long-term service.
They also do not go flat, and therefore, won’t disappoint you in case you run the cart over a nail, thorn, or anything that can puncture rubber. If you believe you run the risk of puncturing your cart’s wheel, then choose a cart with foam-stuffed wheels.
Inflatable wheels are cheaper, and offer better cushioning to the kayak. Their downside is they easily get punctured. If that happens, you either have to repair them while you are out there, or find another means of carrying your kayak.
The last option is to go for balloon tires if you are likely to pull your cart over a sandy surface. However, they are more costly than the first two options, and they run a greater risk of getting punctured, or simply going flat. Still, they offer a greater convenience when transporting your kayak along the beach.
Cart’s Frame
The overall design of the cart should be durable, lightweight, and compact. Most importantly, the paint work on the frame should be perfect. It should not come off at the slightest scratch, thereby exposing the metal to corrosion.
The frame should be compact enough to fit in your car’s trunk for easy storage, so you do not have to tie the cart, along with the kayak, on the roof rack. Another important feature that the kayak cart should have is a longer and stronger strap.
As time goes by, the sun’s rays will weaken the strap, and if it was not strong enough in the first place, it will snap when you least expect it. Needless to say, that could cause significant damage to your kayak.
Some kayak carts do not have straps, and instead, come with parts that are designed to plug into the kayak’s scupper holes. If you choose that design, make sure that the cart will easily fit into the scrapper holes, and the kayak will rest securely on it.
The advantage of the plug-design is if you get a perfect fit, it is a lot more convenient to use than the straps.
Lastly, if the frame and wheels are both light enough, then that is a plus. You will not have to worry about the cart when kayaking.
Even if it were to slip into the water, it will remain afloat and attached to the kayak, if you did not loosen the straps.
Conclusion
Overall, the choice of cart you are going to buy will depend on where you plan to go kayaking, and how much you are willing to spend.
Like most things in life, you get what you pay for; you should, therefore, focus more on quality than price. We hope that you found this article to be informative, allowing you to buy the best kayak cart you can.
PS. If you’re on the prowl for your own kayak, you can read our Oru kayak review first.
