Build a Kayak Rack by crystalgustin | Aug 13, 2019 | Instructional, Internationalisation, United States, Video, Whitewater, Whitewater Instruction | 2 comments A friend of mine was in need of a kayak rack and after numerous requests, I made it a priority and started my research. I could have made it easy on myself and built a sawhorse style rack, same as mine, but I am not really a big fan of it. With a fair amount of google image searches, I drew up a plan. In order to fit a wide variety of kayaks (play, creeker, long boats), a width of approximately 4′ was decided by 6′ tall with 18″ for each kayak. No one wants to be lifting boats high and this way, 8 kayaks could easily be stashed in an organized fashion. I know youTube makes everything look easy but this had its challenges. First, I needed to cut and build as much as possible at my own house. Then I needed to transport it to my friend’s house where I would install it and hope all my measurements were correct. I was on a time crunch and in the process, forgot to bring some of my tools to her house and she does not have many tools laying around. Thanks to a local timber framer, I was able to do the install when I arrived. I thought I had everything planned out. Yep, this project would prove to me I am your average DIYer. I thought the top brace and the bottom brace would be enough to support this and all 8 kayaks. Oh, how I was wrong. I took the advice of my friend, hopped in my car and drove to the local timber framer a few miles down the road. When I presented my problem to one of the workers, he easily gave me the solution: cut a piece of wood that goes from the top corner down to the opposite corner. Brilliant. Easy enough. I drove back to figure out the measurements. Now I know there is a math formula for this but math wasn’t my strongest subject in school and instead of killing myself over it, I took the width and height of the opening and drove back to the timber framer. He then inputted these numbers into an app, cut a piece of wood for me and I again drove back to my friend’s house to finally finish the project. For a step-by-step, watch the video and look at the infographic below. 2 Comments Lisa on June 9, 2021 at 4:06 pm “I know there’s math for that…” Story of my life!! Knowing the math exists but not feeling like trying to relearn 9th grade geometry to retrieve it! Thankfully there’s an app for that now! And thanks for the plans. We’re going to build this! Reply Markus Polo on April 2, 2022 at 12:43 pm I recommend the “arms” be vertical instead of horizontal. Wood gets its strength from its height (a single vertical 2×6 is stronger than two vertical 2×4’s put together. A single 2×8 is stronger than two 2×6’s put together, you guessed it a single 2×10 is stronger than two 2×8’s put together). So the arms if placed vertically will be a lot stronger. Also wood that’s wet is significantly weaker than dry and the arms being horizonal will collect rain/snow/water more which will absorb into the wood and compound their weakness. Vertical arms shed the water more vs what can soak in so there’s less to absorb into the wood to make it weaker. Even with the braces shown (which should also be vertical) the physics say this can’t be a long lasting solution. That’s the physics why most arms of racks use doubled up 2×4’s vertically with space between. Vertical wood is much stronger than when placed horizontal, vertical sheds water better so it stays dryer and stronger, and are doubled-up typically with space between to make sure they won’t warp, will shed water better, and allow air flow to stay as dry as possible and be the longest lasting. Thank you Reply Submit a Comment Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ
Lisa on June 9, 2021 at 4:06 pm “I know there’s math for that…” Story of my life!! Knowing the math exists but not feeling like trying to relearn 9th grade geometry to retrieve it! Thankfully there’s an app for that now! And thanks for the plans. We’re going to build this! Reply
Markus Polo on April 2, 2022 at 12:43 pm I recommend the “arms” be vertical instead of horizontal. Wood gets its strength from its height (a single vertical 2×6 is stronger than two vertical 2×4’s put together. A single 2×8 is stronger than two 2×6’s put together, you guessed it a single 2×10 is stronger than two 2×8’s put together). So the arms if placed vertically will be a lot stronger. Also wood that’s wet is significantly weaker than dry and the arms being horizonal will collect rain/snow/water more which will absorb into the wood and compound their weakness. Vertical arms shed the water more vs what can soak in so there’s less to absorb into the wood to make it weaker. Even with the braces shown (which should also be vertical) the physics say this can’t be a long lasting solution. That’s the physics why most arms of racks use doubled up 2×4’s vertically with space between. Vertical wood is much stronger than when placed horizontal, vertical sheds water better so it stays dryer and stronger, and are doubled-up typically with space between to make sure they won’t warp, will shed water better, and allow air flow to stay as dry as possible and be the longest lasting. Thank you Reply
