How to Build a Free Standing Kayak Storage Rack

Most serious kayakers don't have just one boat. Different boats fit different paddling styles, and your mood may dictate a different boating experience. Once you own multiple boats, you need a way to store them. Anyone with basic carpentry skills and a few tools can build a kayak rack, and the project takes only a few hours.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Measuring tape 4-by-4 wood (lengths vary based on your needs) 2-by-4 wood (lengths will vary based on your needs) Circular saw or hand saw Drill Long wood screws Hammer Nails
Measuring tape
4-by-4 wood (lengths vary based on your needs)
2-by-4 wood (lengths will vary based on your needs)
Circular saw or hand saw
Drill
Long wood screws
Hammer
Nails

Step 1

Measure the lengths of 4-by-4 needed for the frame of your rack. Racks for whitewater boats will be shorter than those for touring kayaks. If you have many boats, the width will be greater. Height will vary depending on how many boats you wish to store in each column.

Step 2

Cut the 4-by-4 into appropriate lengths. You will end up with four vertical corner pieces, four pieces cut to the length measurement and four cut to the width measurement.

Step 3

Drill holes for attaching the frame pieces together, making the vertical posts the outermost pieces and drilling through their sides and into the ends of the length and width sections.

Step 4

Join the frame pieces using the long wood screws. Any length over 6 inches is appropriate.

Step 5

Cut appropriate lengths of 2-by-4 for cross beams and vertical section dividers. Cross beams will use the width and length measurements from previous steps. Section dividers will be the same height as corner posts.

Step 6

Nail the cross beams and section dividers in place. Your finished rack will look like a wooden grid, and each kayak is stored in its own individual rack space.

Tips & Warnings

If your rack will be outside, you may want to add a roof to protect your kayaks from sun damage. For a very large rack, adding diagonal corner supports to the frame will strengthen the structure significantly.

If your rack will be outside, you may want to add a roof to protect your kayaks from sun damage.

For a very large rack, adding diagonal corner supports to the frame will strengthen the structure significantly.

Always wear appropriate safety equipment when working with power tools.

Article Written By Christopher Williams

Christopher Williams has spent over 11 years working in the information technology, health care and outdoor recreation fields. He has over seven years of technical and educational writing experience, and has brought strong skills and passion to the Demand Studios team in articles for eHow and Trails in 2009.

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