Free Standing Kayak Rack

Any recommendations for a free standing kayak rack? I’ve seen commercial metal ones (Martin Creek) that store kayaks on the side and also home-built PVC models that store upright.

handyman special
If it was me…build it yourself. PVC sounds good if you have a blueprint. For my money I would go with a few 2x4s and 1 inch straping. Maybe mount to the garage wall. Just be sure to attach to a stud. you could also make it totally free standing, but it might take some thinking/planning, or a couple of trys.



Good luck, post some pictures!!

Liveoutside

Accessories Buyers’ Guide
Lots of great information right here on Paddling.net:



http://www.paddling.net/buyersguide/accessories/showCategory.html?cat=11



-Brent

Paddling.net

Check out
Some of these. These are not all mine but they were made available to the general public. I apologize for not giving credit where due as I can’t seem to remember who they are!

http://community.webshots.com/album/75339831lYACpl

How about…
a cheap pair of plastic saw horses? Infinately adjustable in length, lightweight, strong, and portable.

Depends On What You Want
I have two composit Kayaks and no garage and a shed too small to house them. I built a wooden rack which I attached to the rear of my shed. It is very simple. The basic part of my rack is a cradle that I cut from a 2x10. I got an outline of the hull near each bulkhead and traced then cut the 2x10. I cut the outline about 1/2 inch larger than the tracing to allow for a liner. I then lined the cutout with carpet. I mounted each of the 2x10s to an upright sized to accept mounts for two boats with a shelf bracket. I bolted the upright to the shed and now store two kayaks in a semi protected site.



I used 2x10s and 2x4s because I happened to have some scrap pieces lying around.



Mark

Talic
Just got in a bunch of Talic Racks for my new showroom. Very pretty, ruggedly built but gentle on the boats. Sport slings. They also make a freestanding folding one called a Sea Horse. Drop me a line, I’ll send you a picture of them.



See you on the water,

Marshall

http://www.the-river-connection.com

WELL, IT’S NOT “FREE”, BUT IT STANDS

– Last Updated: May-05-05 2:13 PM EST –

alone...

Our rack holds 4 poly SOTs, 1 roto SINK, a trylon/airlite/carbonlite SINK, and a glass SOT.

See it at
http://www.topkayaker.net/CGI-BIN/yakalbum/cgi-bin/album.pl?album=Misc.%20Member%20Photos;photo_width=auto;photo_height=auto

(Don't click on the link -cut & paste ENTIRE eddress (all the way thru the final "auto") into your browser)

and then scroll down and click on the YAK RACK OUT BACK II (1) & (2), and the END-ON VIEW-BIG YAK RACK OUT BACK, shots.

Or click on
http://www.sit-on-topkayaking.com/CGI-BIN/YakAlbum/cgi-bin/album.pl

and then click on the "Misc. Member Photos" album.

In both cases, you'll need to click on the "FULL SIZE" button to get more than a thumbnail view of the setup.

It's really a pretty simple affair to construct: I used PT pine throughout -2 2X12s across the bottom, 2 vertical 2X6s bolted to the 2X12s to form a pair of big heavy-duty Ls,, and 1X4s for the 2 arms, bolted to the vertical 2X6s. The Ls are conncected across the back by 2 horizontal 2X4a, and a diagonal on to give lateral rigidity, again, bolted together.

It took only a couple hours to design & build -wood & hardware comes from almost any typical hardware store -I put it together in the carport to check fit & finish, then disassebled and reassembled in the back yard.

I swung from the arms using all my ~200#, and they eaxh held just fine; they'll support half a 70# kayak without a problem.

I use swim noodles on the arms to cushion the yaks, and I put the Traver and Isthmus in upside down to keep the rain out; I drain the Eclipse, which I store on its side on the lower section, if needed. All are cabled securely to each other and to the fence hidden behind the palms.

We later finished the back yard so that it was easier to handle the boats and rinse them and the rest of our gear off after paddling. This yak rack setup works well for us, and makes it a lot easier for us to store our boats in between the times we

PADDLE ON!

-Frank in Miami

SanO Sand Stand
Check this site for the specifications for builing your own kayak stand. Its stable, sturdy and inexpensive…plus it collapses so that it can be carried in your vehicle.



http://www.sopsa.org



Check the article titled SanO Sand Stand in the Journal section.

Rack construction photos
I’ve got construction photos of a simple, inexpensive, A-frame rack that can handle 3-7 boats in one of my Webshots albums at:



http://community.webshots.com/user/brian_nystrom



Look on the second page.

Talic gets my vote
I have a Talic rack that holds 6 kayaks. What I like about it is that each kayak is suspended by four straps, (not 2 wooden arms that they may appear to be held by in some photos). This is especially important for plastic boats if you don’t want them to develop indentations at any hard hold point. The down side: they are expensive.

Tony

I just built mine this morning
I made a simple frame using 2x4 lumber and construction hardware (both to speed it up and because I have very little woodworking experience or workspace). It is approximately 84" tall by 74" wide. I have an angled upright with adjustable shelving (20" shelves) to hold the boats. I still have to pad it out and want to reinforce it with a few 90º corner braces before loading the boats on permanently. Upon completion, I will try to get some pictures of it (set up in my living room -space thing again) posted. It ain’t pretty but it will work. Cost about $90 in materials, more than half of which was the shelving hardware.



In a couple hours I’ll get out for a paddle (although I am a bit sore from putting the rack together) on this absolutely gorgeous day here in west central FL.



3hrTour