Kayak Winterization and Winter Storage in Ohio

NOAA's 1991-2020 median first 32°F night is October 27 at Columbus and November 3 at Cleveland; winterize by October 13, two weeks ahead of the earlier date. By our kayak rule Columbus stays paddling through October and Cleveland through October, then 2 months of drysuit paddling follow at Columbus. 0 Ohio listings offer indoor or climate-controlled space.

3 at Columbus (November to March) and 4 at Cleveland (November to April), plus 2 and 2 months of drysuit paddling. Those racked months hold 56.5 of the 63.8 inches of snow Cleveland averages a year (89%), which is the load on a cover or carport roof. At Columbus a kayak is paddling from April to October (7 months), against 6 at Cleveland.

Of 20 live Ohio listings, 0 list indoor space and 0 climate-controlled units, against 0 outdoor and 0 covered. By city: Cleveland (8 listed, 0 indoor), Cincinnati (7 listed, 0 indoor) and Columbus (5 listed, 0 indoor). No Ohio city lists an indoor kayak space yet. Ask whether indoor means heated; listings span 3 cities in all.

At Columbus, 4 months average a low at or below 32°F: 3 racked and 1 drysuit paddling or paddling by our kayak rule. Columbus logs 103.2 nights at or below 32°F and 2.3 at or below 0°F a year; January, the coldest month, averages 22.0°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 18 at Columbus and April 20 at Cleveland; the last 28°F hard freeze comes around April 5 and April 5. Our rule makes April the first month paddling at Columbus and May at Cleveland. That month Columbus averages a 42.2°F low and a 64.1°F high. Reverse each winterization step first.

Ohio kayak & canoe storage listings span 3 cities, led by Cleveland (8 listed), Cincinnati (7 listed) and Columbus (5 listed). Statewide, 0 list outdoor, 0 covered and 0 indoor or climate-controlled spaces. Compare the cities nearest you before October 27.