canoe storage Archives - Garage Tailors

On June 8, 2017, we can celebrate the annual World Ocean’s Day. In large part, we can thank Canada’s recommendation at the Earth Summit in 1992 when it was our delegates who suggested an annual celebration to improve our international awareness to the issues surrounding water systems around the world. Since 2002, each June 8^th this day has been celebrated as World Ocean’s Day. In 2008, the United Nations then officially passed a resolution to recognize this day officially.

June 8^th is a great day to break out the canoe, kayak, paddleboard and more to reconnect with the many water ways throughout our neighbourhoods. Celebrate by making it a full family day on the water with conservation activities and more.

Celebrating World Ocean’s Day

Every lake, river, stream or body of water is part of a watershed that eventually empties into our immense oceans. Caring for our local water systems helps reduce the downstream effects of our footprint on them. Here are some suggestions from Canada’s World Ocean’s Day website and how you could turn it into a family activity:

Reduced Energy Consumption

Do simple things such as swapping out existing lightbulbs with LED lightbulbs. Use fans instead of using air conditioning to cool our homes this summer.

Choose Sustainable Seafood

There are sustainable species that we can eat. As a family event, visit a local fish market and plan a meal that honours sustainable seafood is a great way to educate and celebrate. Some fish to consider are albacore tuna, Pacific cod, sardines, Dungeness crab and some specific types of farmed fish too.

Use Less Plastic

Plastics harm and kill a lot of our ocean life each year. To reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in our oceans we can do things such as owning and using a reusable water bottle. Bring your lunch in a reusable container. Use cloth or reusable bags for groceries and other shopping. And, of course, recycle whenever possible.

Look After Our Beaches and Shore Lines

When spending the day at the beach or the park, remember to pick up after ourselves afterwards to reduce the footprint we leave behind. Also, spend some time walking a quiet shoreline for some fresh air and a way to clean up odds and ends that you find there. Spend the day paddling the shores of your local water way and picking up garbage along the shores as a way to contribute to cleaning up our waters.

Avoid Buying Products which Exploit Marine Life

Avoid buying shell or coral jewellery to reduce the exploitation of marine life.

Ocean-friendly Pet Ownership

Read the labels of food that you’re feeding your pets to be sure the seafood ingredients are sustainable species.

Travel the Water Ways Responsibly

Avoid using foam products near the water as foam wears down and breaks down leaving debris in the water. Sanitize boats, canoes, kayaks and other water going crafts thoroughly inside and out to avoid cross contamination of new waters with a trip last week whose water may have been infested. Specific species such as zebra mussels and quagga mussels have been destroying water ways.

Enjoy the Day on the Water around Ontario

Spending the day on the water is the best way to become connected to the importance of clean water to our existence. There are so many places throughout the province of Ontario to enjoy our water systems. To plan a trip along one of our many water systems, visit the Ontario Trails website for a location.

Even if you live in a large city like Toronto, it’s not that difficult to stay in the city and still be able to enjoy a day kayaking or canoeing. Some of the launches for paddlers can be found at Bluffer’s Park, Kew / Balmy Beach, Brickworks along the Don River, Cherry Beach, Harbourfront Canoe and Kayak Centre, Sunnyside Beach, and along the Humber River at several spots.

Care and Clean for Canoes, Kayaks and other Watercrafts

Remember to protect the waters and your equipment by cleaning, maintaining and storing your water crafts safely. Not only will this get rid of the millions of microbes to keep your family and pets safe, but it will also get rid of the creepy crawlers that may have hopped on board for a ride.

The best way to wash your kayak or canoe is to use some eco-friendly soap and water. These are easily found at your local camping store or health store. Some of the more popular brands include Castle brand soap which can be found at most health stores and Campsuds which is available at most sporting goods or outdoor stores.

Leave your kayak or canoe in the backyard under the sunlight for several hours to dry. Not only does this help dry your watercraft but it helps remove some of the dips or dents which polyethylene boats are prone to acquire. Under the sun for several hours will provide the heat necessary for these deformations to work themselves out.

Canoe, Kayak and Accessory Storage

Store your kayak or canoe up high along the wall or in the overhead storage space of the garage. With a pulley system to hoist the boat up above, this makes it easy to use for the whole family. With the canoe or kayak secured by a rubberized sling, it will keep the craft safely out of the way of harm from vehicles and kids rushing in and out of the house.

If your family enjoys multiple water sports, accessories such as Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) and safety kits for your boat, canoe or kayak can be stored on hooks or in wire baskets of a slatwall organization system. Wire baskets and hooks are the best ways to store items which are used again and again. It also makes it easy to have these items dry out thoroughly between trips back to the water.

If you don’t have one of these solutions, during your next garage renovation project consider implementing these valuable garage storage solutions to store, dry and care for your watercrafts. And, enjoy the water this coming World Ocean’s Day!

Several items are commonly stored in garages: gardening tools, automotive supplies and winter weather accessories. Yet, the configuration of your garage, the space available therein and the items you store there are unique to your individual lifestyle. Let’s explore two common issues that frequently create a storage challenge in garages.

Storing Oversized Items in Your Garage

When clients are unable to park their cars inside the garage, it’s usually due to one of the following reasons:

Too many items stored in the garage;
Oversized items have taken over the garage;
Inefficient use of available space.

In this post, we’ll address the last two issues: storing oversized items and making efficient use of available space, since these two issues are frequently connected.

Is the storage of winter tires, kayaks, building materials or other bulky, oversized items preventing you from parking in your garage?

If so, you’re not alone. Whether you have a small, one-car garage or a large three-car one, your garage contains a finite amount of space. Yet, as the years go by, we continue to acquire what feels like an infinite amount of goods; most of which, ends up vying for space in the garage.

Periodically, it’s a good idea to assess what’s in your garage and eliminate unnecessary items. Purging your garage of unneeded items frees up valuable storage space. Still, the unusual size and bulky nature of items like canoes or leftover house siding make it difficult to store them in the garage without impeding the car’s entry.

What’s a frustrated homeowner to do?

Make Use of “Unusable” Space in Your Garage

Is your garage saddled with “unusable” spaces like high ceilings or oddly-shaped corners? Is your central vacuum sitting smack in the middle of a wall where you’d like to install a bank of cabinets? These types of situations create storage challenges that homeowners find extremely frustrating.

However, as a garage renovation specialist, I know that these challenges are easily overcome by applying creative storage solutions. Here are four possible creative solutions to storing your oversized items:

Custom-built overhead platforms – Looking for a solution to the dilemma of what to do with oversized items? Just look up. Many garages have open space overhead that seems “unusable.” However, a custom-built, overhead platform creates the perfect place to store items that aren’t frequently used. If the garage ceiling is high enough, a full mezzanine can be built across the back wall of the garage which allows for another level of storage and workspace.

Custom-built or customizable cabinetry – Perhaps you’d like to install cabinets along the back wall of your garage, but a recessed or curved wall makes it difficult? Garage Tailors Garage has met this challenge by either custom-building cabinetry designed to fit that unique space or by installing cabinetry with customizable design options. A poorly located central vacuum can either be relocated or hidden inside of a cabinet. The final result is aesthetically-pleasing cabinets that have nice, clean lines, even when the walls behind them don’t.

Custom-built slings – Canoes and rooftop sports equipment carriers for your vehicle provide an additional challenge. An overhead platform would provide storage space. However, the item would be difficult to access. A better option is a custom-built, overhead storage sling. Sturdy chains are used to provide maximum holding power. In the case of a canoe sling, the chains are covered to protect the finish of the canoe as it is lowered or hoisted into place overhead.

Other custom-built options – In a small, tight garage it’s nearly impossible to add a traditional workbench. However, a custom-built workbench that is tucked in an otherwise unusable corner or that folds up against the wall when not in use fits perfectly in a limited space.

There are many creative storage solutions available. However, it can be difficult to visualize how those solutions might work in your space. In the next post, we’ll explore specific storage challenges and examine the creative solutions used to resolve them.

Want to see how Garage Tailors Garage can fix your garage storage dilemma? Request your consultation today.

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Water Ways to Celebrate World Ocean’s Day