Soon, we wont be able to travel anywhere with boats.

You need to go to the airline website and print out the page that says they accept kayaks.  First, when you try to check in, do not declare that they are kayaks, let the airline think they are surf boards.  When they ask whats in the bag say surfing equipment.  If they get on you about them being kayaks, show them the clause on their website that you printed out.

Continental is not very kayaker friendly.  There are only a handfull of airlines that are.  US Air and American Airlines I've had the most luck with.  But US Air sucks.

Sorry this happened to you.

Joey