How to Tow a Kayak With a Bicycle

Kayak 4 image by Vitezslav Halamka from Fotolia.com

While light and maneuverable on the water, a kayak isn't exactly an easy item to portage. Factor in a paddle and whatever you have stowed away in the bulkhead and you'll be lucky to make it out of the garage, much less to the nearest body of water. Towing a kayak with a bicycle is a relatively cheap and easy solution. Kayak bike trailers can cost a couple hundred dollars, but consider the cost offset by what you won't be spending in gasoline.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Bicycle kayak trailer
Adjustable wrench

Step 1

Remove the left, or non-drive side axle nut, from the rear wheel of your bicycle. Some nuts thread off by hand. Otherwise, they require an adjustable wrench.

Step 2

Attach the couplet that came with your trailer to the end of the axle. A pin will link the trailer hitch to the couplet, so make sure the pin holes on the couplet face the trailer. Reattach the axle nut, and tighten it fully.

Step 3

Attach the trailer hitch to the couplet and slide the lynch pin through the top of the couplet, securing the two in place. If the hitch features a safety strap, pass the strap around the bicycle seatstay, and clip the end of the strap in place on the hitch.

Step 4

Lift the kayak and place it on the trailer so that the bow faces the bike and its mid-section rests above the trailer axle. Placing the kayak so will ensure that the weight of the kayak is evenly distributed and that there is plenty of clearance between the kayak and the rear of the bicycle.

Step 5

Pass each set of straps up and over the kayak. Tighten the strap cam buckles so that the kayak is secure. Place any accessories or items inside the kayak. For sit-in kayaks, wrap your paddle through the kayak deck bungees. This will keep it from moving when you are towing the kayak down the road.

Tips & Warnings

Always check the stability of your kayak on the cart before you venture too far down the road. If your buckles are loose now, the kayak may work itself free, potentially causing an accident.

Article Written By Matthew Ferguson

Matthew Ferguson is a writer living in Savannah, Ga. He has been writing for over 10 years and his work has appeared on various online publications. A collection of his short stories was published in spring 2010. He is a graduate of Appalachian State University.

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