I need a kayak hoist system

Can anyone recommend a good one that’s not too expensive? Or a simple one I can make myself? Are there any stores that stock them instead of buying online? Thanks.

Bicycle hoist systems

– Last Updated: Apr-01-13 8:12 PM EST –

Sold at Lowe's and HD. Around $35, or less, if on sale. I've heard they work, but have no personal experience.

Actually, neither one of these is the one I was thinking about, but, they get the idea across.

50 lb limit, here:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_5884-46882-45670PKDLG_0__?productId=4062611&Ntt=bicycle+pulley&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dbicycle%2Bpulley&facetInfo=

125 lb limit, here:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Garage-Gator-Manual-Storage-Lift-System-HC125/202831519#.UVoh0KrsE6o

BAC Industries
These work well. I’ve used one for several years.



http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___82222#

I use a bicycle hoist
but you have to place the pulleys farther apart than the installation instructons will specify.

If you have Menards or Lowes
in your town they both carry a no-name bicycle hoist that works very well. I did replace the low quality rope with a little higher quality line. just make sure you mount them in studs, and spread them out to support your boat correctly.

Do you need to lift or just hang?
For just hanging above the cars in the garage, my system is great, cheap, and easy to install if you have basic home repair tools and skills.



See the beginning of this video:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc-eB93PW4I&sns=em



An eye hook, webbing, and an s hook is what I have on each end of my boats. I just park under the boat I want and it is 5" above my rack ready to go…

Not the cheapest
But they are the BEST. Look at Harken Hoisters at hoister.com



I winter-store my 110-pound Pro Angler under my deck with one, and it’s a jewel.

My husband made up a unit for us

– Last Updated: Apr-03-13 11:23 AM EST –

using two boat type winches, one on the left and one to the right, such as shown in the first answer that are attached to straps that will hold three kayaks on the front wall of my garage.
The strap system is similar to NRS' item #1518, but is a triple set up. There's even room for one to sit on the floor.
Hubby even hung a tennis ball, from a beam, that will touch my windshield when I'm at the point to stop so the boats will not be touched and there's still room to walk in between the boat and vehicle.
It's been hanging there for several years and frees up floor space for the other boats. We've never had any problem with it whatsoever. Works great for us.

Mine is elaborate but simple to build

– Last Updated: Apr-03-13 11:52 AM EST –

Here are some shots of a variation of my hoist system, made from parts available at any hardware store.

http://tinyurl.com/c7ms5lo

I've built seven of these now, four of my own and three for friends, and unfortunately, the only one of which I have pictures posted online doesn't make ideal use of rope (the reason for this, and a potential solution to the problem which would be better than one adopted, are described in the text beneath the photos). The main difference between the pictured method and my standard one is that with my regular system, a single hand winch pulls a single rope, and that rope splits into two ropes which do the vertical lifting. Thus, turning the crank raises and lowers both lifting ropes exactly the same amount, with no adjustments being necessary.

For a kayak, you might use a pair of slings instead of the wooden gunwale supports that I use for canoes. If you need to get the boat right up to the ceiling, attaching each sling to a spreader bar would do the trick, so that the strap could be very short without squeezing the boat (in that case, the center of each spreader bar would be where the lifting ropes attach).

Simple and cheap
Screw two large J hooks into a ceiling joist. Get two long straps that have hooks on both ends and a cam buckle —not the ratcheting type. Hange one end of the straps from the hooks. Wrap the other end around the kayak. Place the second strap hook on the ceiling hook and pull the loose end to lift the kayak.



This works even better if your kayak has two metal safety loops on the deck, but it should work without those as well.


Hoist
Thanks guys. I wound up going with the Attwood kayak hoist. It’s well worth the $26 from Farm and Fleet. The only problem is the straps are too long. I need the kayak to be raised about 18" higher. That means I need to shorten each strap by 36", correct?

wives
just get the wife to load it up for ya…and if it’s too much for her get her a membership to a fitness club. In the meantime, get a neighbor to help her. Be sure to thank 'em when you’ve finished your beer and turned off the sports channel.

Kayak
Thanks, but that doesn’t answer my question.