-- Last Updated: Jun-25-14 3:42 PM EST --
I'll be building a kayak rack and wondering what the schools of thought are with regard to storage angle.
I've seen some flat stored, flipped and other stored at a 30-45º angle flipped.
Does it matter?
storage
Arches are general stronger than flat. Most boats have a fairly strong short arch on their sides - with a fairly flat bottom. Likewise the bottom of some hulls are thicker than the decks.
If your rack is rigid - you generally want the short arch touching the rack (boat on it’s side). If your boats are held by straps - pressure will generally be distributed and not much of an issue.
That said - some boats can be supported perfectly fine on their bottoms. Ultimately it will depend on the hull.
I like mine on their hulls in cradles
If they are plastic, the wider you make the cradles the happier your boat(s) will be.
Jack L
what we did
we built with straight arms and the kayaks are on their tops.
now need to get a loop lock