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Home > Guides > Shipping a kayak
LetterAgent can't ship a kayak: our shipping labels are Canada-only Xpresspost with a five-kilogram limit, and kayaks are oversize freight items that regular parcel carriers cap out on. The real method is LTL (less-than-truckload) freight, ideally terminal to terminal, with the hull padded and the cockpit covered.
A recreational kayak is eight to fourteen feet long, which puts it far beyond every parcel carrier's length limits. LTL freight exists for exactly this: shipments too big for parcels but too small for a full truck. A freight broker quotes the move, a truck picks the kayak up, and it rides with other freight on the same trailer. Kayak sellers, outfitters, and race organizers move boats this way routinely, so the networks know what a kayak is.
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| LTL freight, terminal to terminal | Lowest cost on long distances | You load and unload at freight terminals yourself |
| LTL freight, residential pickup/delivery | No terminal nearby | Residential and liftgate fees add up; the truck needs street access |
| Freight marketplace (uShip-style bidding) | Odd routes or flexible timing | Check the carrier's reviews for boat handling specifically |
| Strapping it to your own roof rack | Short moves you control | Not a shipping option, but often cheaper than freight for one boat |
Freight terminals are industrial yards where you bring the kayak, they forklift it onto the trailer, and the recipient collects it at the other end. It is the cheapest option and the safest for the boat, because terminals handle odd freight all day. Residential delivery means the truck comes to a house, which triggers residential service fees and often a liftgate fee if the driver has to lower the boat without a dock. For a single kayak, those surcharges can double the quote, which is why sellers usually price terminal-to-terminal and let the buyer upgrade.
Pad the hull with foam or moving blankets and wrap the whole boat in stretch wrap or a kayak bag, with special attention to the bow and stern tips, which take the first hit in a shift. Cover the cockpit with its cover or a taped sheet of cardboard: an open cockpit collects debris and lets straps crush the rim. Remove loose gear (seats that slide, hatches, rudders) and ship them inside the hull or in a separate box. Photograph the hull from every side before it leaves; freight damage claims live or die on before-and-after photos.
Ready to ship it? Get a shipping label with LetterAgent: describe it to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and get your label.
LetterAgent is a working name. Prices include print, postage, and our service fee. US prices in USD, Canadian prices in CAD (Canadian prices exclude applicable sales tax, added at checkout). Currently in private testing.
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