OK, so it is that time, either you now have your new Tyr, or it is coming soon and you want to know best practices for taking care of it! The beauty of this boat is that it is super low maintenance. However, there are a few dos and don’ts that will assure it stays in prime condition for many years to come.
First off, the difference from plastic kayaks-
A plastic kayak is subject to getting soft and deforming in the heat. Your Tyr doesn’t have that challenge, it will remain stiff and hold its shape at any temperature. A plastic boat will also gouge on rocks due to the softness of the plastic, while the epoxy/carbon is much harder. It will scratch, and it can gouge, but it will lose much less material and be less deep. With that said- avoid super sharp rocks with your weight on the boat if you can. It can be cut or broken in the right circumstance.
Specific care:
- Keep it Fresh- Dry it after use to assure it doesn’t get mold on the inside. Water can get inside a couple of ways. Condensation is the first way, and through the hatch is the second way. Most of the time you won’t get any water in your boat.Here is how you get water out of the inside of the boat if you do find some. There isn’t a “Drain plug” but the water flows out of the hatch nicely. (drain plugs leak and you WILL have water in your boat more often with one)
- Turn the boat upside down and open the hatch. Put one end of the boat on an elevated surface (Tailgate, saw horse, fence, anything). Lift the other end and any water will run and some will come out the hatch. Drop your end down low and water will run back the other way and more will come out of the hatch. Do that 5-6 times until very little, if any comes out.
- Elevate the stern of your kayak and use a broomstick with a dry towel on the end of it, or a mop to sponge up the rest. Prop the hatch open with the boat inside a garage or other dry area to dry 100%.
- Protecting the boat from scratches, etc. We have a “boat bag” that is form fitted to the kayak and is a great way to transport it. While I (EJ) don’t stress about scratches and prefer to use my boat hard and enjoy the lightweight and performance, it can be protected easily. The benefits of a boat bag are mostly in transportation and storage. Driving with a kayak on roof racks is very abusive in that 80mph on a highway and there is a lot of wind force trying to make it slide back and forth and the cam straps or ropes abraid the vinyl wrap. The boat bag is an extra layer of protection, taking that abuse instead of the kayak. The bag also has a “mole” system that makes tying the boat on racks easier and doesn’t require it to be tied as tight.
- Storing outside in the rain- The open back of the Tyr is so water runs out the back when paddling it. It is designed to sit bow up slightly on the water. However, at home it is possible to have the bow lower than the stern on a hill, or even when tied on a vehicle. The open stern doesn’t drain water out if it is bow down. Unfortunatley that means you need to remember to store it bow up if outside in the rain. The boat can fill up inside until it gets to the hatch and water will slowly leak into the hatch and fill the inside with water. Worse case scenario is that you have it on roof racks for a long period of time and hundreds of pounds of water gets inside and damages the boat, makes it hard to get of the racks, etc.. Solution – store it bow up/stern down when leaving it out in the rain and right side up. You can also keep it on its side or upside down if leaving it outside and no water can get in. The hatch has a seal, but it isn’t waterproof.
- Foam or Cork Cleaning- You can use a brush, sponge, or even pressure washer to make the foam and cork look like new. Mild soap and it will stay looking great. Muddy boots is a normal situation when kayak fishing. Don’t worry about it. Also- fishing in hyrdrilla and other emergent vegetation will make quite a mess if you are getting serious and using the Tyr to get where most people can’t get to with their boats. Rest assured, you can make it look great again. I recommend cleaning it before it dries 100% if you can. Fastest way- pressure washer!
- Fin Maintanence- The fins are designed to be put on the boat when clean and dry. Having a fin on the kayak will also prevent the boat from dragging on the ground when dragging it. Yes, the fin will take the abuse and wear down, and in some cases even break. That is OK, it can be replaced. The 3M- HBV tape should hold the fin on indefinitely, but in the case that it comes off, it floats and can be put back on. Fresh tape can be purchased online or at a hardware store. 1″ wide 3m- HBV two face foam tape.
