Kayak Winterization and Winter Storage in Minnesota

NOAA's 1991-2020 median first 32°F night is October 18 at Minneapolis and October 1 at Duluth; winterize by September 17, two weeks ahead of the earlier date. By our kayak rule Minneapolis stays paddling through September and Duluth through September, then 2 months of drysuit paddling follow at Minneapolis. 0 Minnesota listings offer indoor or climate-controlled space.

5 at Minneapolis (October to April) and 5 at Duluth (October to April), plus 2 and 2 months of drysuit paddling. Those racked months hold 77.5 of the 90.2 inches of snow Duluth averages a year (86%), which is the load on a cover or carport roof. At Minneapolis a kayak is paddling from May to September (5 months), against 5 at Duluth.

Of 11 live Minnesota listings, 0 list indoor space and 0 climate-controlled units, against 0 outdoor and 0 covered. By city: Minneapolis (11 listed, 0 indoor). No Minnesota city lists an indoor kayak space yet. Ask whether indoor means heated; listings span 1 city in all.

At Duluth, 6 months average a low at or below 32°F: 5 racked and 1 drysuit paddling or paddling by our kayak rule. Duluth logs 176.6 nights at or below 32°F and 37.7 at or below 0°F a year; January, the coldest month, averages 2.4°F and is racked for a kayak. Drain or re-protect the kayak after any outing in those 1 month.

After the last frost. The median last 32°F night is April 23 at Minneapolis and May 13 at Duluth; the last 28°F hard freeze comes around April 13 and April 30. Our rule makes May the first month paddling at Minneapolis and May at Duluth. That month Minneapolis averages a 49.9°F low and a 69.2°F high. Reverse each winterization step first.