How to Rig a Kayak Sail

If you already have a kayak, it is easy to turn it into a sailboat. Having a kayak with a sail can send you sailing down rivers and across lakes, all the while making it easy to navigate, especially when it is very windy outside.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Drill
Pen
Punch
Hammer
Knife
Kayak sail kit
Marine sealant

Step 1

Place your kayak on a solid surface so you will easily be able to work. A table works nicely as it is sturdy and will be at a comfortable height to work at.

Step 2

Put the mast base on the center line of your kayak. Be sure to keep it at least two feet from the cockpit. Take your pen, such as a Sharpie marker, and make a mark of where you will drill your screw holes on each side of the center line.

Step 3

Use the punch to make indentations where your holes will be. Be sure to drill completely through the indentations on the deck of your kayak.

Step 4

Put a small amount of marine sealant around the inside of each hole.

Step 5

Put the mast base on the deck. Line up the holes on the base and the holes on the deck together and insert your screw into the hole.

Step 6

Position the cleat one foot from the mast and no more than two feet from the cockpit and mark the location with your pen. Use the punch to make indentations where your holes will be. Be sure to drill completely through the indentations on the deck of your kayak.

Step 7

Put a small amount of marine sealant around the inside of each hole.

Step 8

With your kayak sail kit, attach all upright pieces together. They may come in two to three pieces.

Step 9

With your kayak sail kit, attach all upright pieces of the mast together. The upright pieces of the mast may come in two to three pieces so be sure you have all of them in front of you and ready to go. Snap all the upright pieces together.

Step 10

Put the cross piece in the sleeve on the bottom of the sail.

Step 11

Snap in the left side of the cross piece to the left side of the sail. Then snap in the right side of the cross piece to the right side of the sail. Attach both sides to the mast by snapping them together.

Step 12

Put the upright pieces in the sleeves on the sides of the sail. Attach the upright pieces to the cross piece by snapping them together.

Step 13

Tie the sheets, using twine that can be found in your kayak sail kit, directly onto the mast half way up the sail.

Resources

Article Written By Kelsey Childress

Kelsey Childress runs a freelance creative business called Awen Creative that specializes in SEO Web content, social media marketing and blogging. She has been writing for online and in-print publications for over six years, and has a bachelor's degree in English literature and creative writing from Kansas State University.

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