How to Build a Kayak Rack for the Garage

How to Build a Kayak Rack for the Garage

All images (c) 2009 by Tom King

The garage is one of the best places to store your kayak, particularly if it's a temperature controlled area that is out of the weather and relatively safe from thieves. However, a kayak is too big to lay on the garage floor. You can assemble an inexpensive kayak rack for your garage that fits together in an hour and provides a safe, easy to access place to store your boat.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:
  • Bracket large enough for a 3-foot wide shelf
  • Stud finder
  • Drill and pilot bit
  • Saw
  • Two 3-foot long 2 by 3s or 2 by 4s
  • One foam swimming "noodle"
  • Four zip ties
  • Twelve 3-inch galvanized screws
Step 1
Bracket installation
Bracket installation
Pick a space on the wall of your garage wide enough for your boat. Use a stud finder to find two wall studs that are more or less an even distances from any obstructions at the ends of where the boat will go and at least a third to a half the length of your kayak apart.
Step 2
Measure the height of your boat from the keel to the highest point of the deck. Add 12 inches to that measurement. Measure from the ceiling the total distance you just added and mark the wall at that point where the two studs you've chosen are located.
Step 3
Screw the two shelf brackets to the wall with the top of the bracket at the mark you made. Make sure the screws go into the studs behind the wall.
Step 4
Support brace screwed into place
Support brace screwed into place
Cut two 3-foot lengths from the 2 by 3 boards (or from 2 by 4 boards if you decide to go thicker) and screw them on top of the shelf brackets.
Step 5
Styrofoam bumpers
Styrofoam bumpers
Cut two 30-inch lengths of plastic foam noodle and fold it over the top of the board. Use zip ties to tie the ends underneath as shown in the accompany picture. You're ready to go
Step 6
Completed kayak rack
Completed kayak rack
Set the kayak in place with the hull resting on the plastic foam bumpers. This shelf makes storing your kayak a snap.

Tips & Warnings

 
Keep the floor beneath the rack clear so two people can lift the boat on and off the rack while keeping their backs straight.
 
Waterproof or paint the kayak rack with enamel if you used unpressure treated wood.
 
Make sure the supports are less than half the length of the kayak so the hull doesn't sag.

Article Written By Tom King

Tom King published his first paid story in 1976. His book, "Going for the Green: An Insider's Guide to Raising Money With Charity Golf," was published in 2008. He received gold awards for screenwriting at the 1994 Worldfest Charleston and 1995 Worldfest Houston International Film Festivals. King holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Southwestern Adventist College.

Write for Trails.com
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