kayak
racks
This is the kayak
rack I built to alleviate any problem of 'oil canning', an affliction common
to the popular poly boats when stored incorrectly due to stresses on heated,
softened hulls. Though outside, I have not had a problem yet. I had planned
this to be a 2 yak carrier, but my city living biz partner needed boat storage
so my equipment space underneath is occupied for the time being. I carved
foam blocks for her kayak to rest on which still gives some room for equipment
that doesn't fit in their respective cockpits.
I started with a
a frame of a door which I had used to display painted doors that I made
in an earlier existence. It seemed well qualified for the task as the beam
sizes of the kayaks are 22.5" and the door it was meant to house was 24".
This gave some latitude to slide the kayaks in easily. It was also long enough
to stretch the fabric past the bulkheads on both. If I had built this from
scratch, I think I would gone a bit wider and used springs to attach
the fabric to the vertical yellow pine uprights.
I used artist canvas that I had as the slings since I have moved to painting
on wood panels. I probably would have used a heavy fishnet due to the elasticity
of the weave if I was going for new. I placed grommets in the four corners
after they were measured and seamed all around. They had stretched nicely
to give even support to the hull.
The wheels were a high quality trash pick as they are a large diameter and
have bearings.
I laminated two yellow pine uprights opposite grain direction to increase
strength. I placed eye hooks and s hooks to hang the canvas. They were spaced
for adequate clearance from the hull of the boat above to the cockpit combing
below.
I always leave the bulkheads open when storing them. I also keep them well
out of the sun. They will live in the garage after my studio is finished
The A-Frame car rack:
I had a pre-existing
roof rack on my cap for hauling wood and metal, the materials I use expensively
in my shop. I wanted the ability of carrying two kayaks on this rack, but
it required some modifications for the particular way I had preferred the
kayak to rest to prevent any deformation of the hull. I presume that it would
be best to rest the boat on it's beam. The secondary advantage is that I
do not need cockpit covers as the angle will not allow rain to accumulate.
The first thing
I did was attach two eye bolts on the bottom bracket of the truck rack. I
sprayed bio-shield on them to prevent rusting.
I constructed the a frame from cedar because of it's weathering capabilities.
The original cedar materials rack has been there eight years with no problems.
It is hinged in 3 places for flat storage. I added strips of wood on the
base so it mortised into the materials rack. I also secure it with a parachute
cord. All of the exposed wood is covered with a closed cell foam. I used
waterproof wood glue + stainless screws and brass bolts for joining the wood
and hardware(brass).
Nylon web belts with ratcheting mechanisms secure the kayaks' hull, and NRS
nylon straps which have a locking cam method of tightening are additional
insurance through the bow and stern.
I travelled with 2 boats 1400 miles in early June with no problems.
