Homemade Kayak Rack

If you need a quick rack for kayaks or canoes, here's a simple homemade “A” frame Yak Rack that you can screw together in a couple of hours with some simple tools and a few bucks worth of lumber, screws, bolts and hinges.

Materials

1. Four 2x4 inch studs
2. Three 10 foot 2x4’s
3. 2 door hinges
4. Box of 3 inch wood screws for attaching the hinges
5. Eight 4 x 1/2 inch carriage bolts, washers and nuts.  
6. Two six foot 2x4’s
7.   6 3/8 or 1/2 inch screw-in eye bolts
8. A bucket of paint

 Tools:

1. Skil saw
2. Crescent wrench
3. Drill with bits.

Lay two 2x4 studs end to end and attach them with a door hinge.  Repeat with the other pair of 2x4’s.  Turn the hinges down and lift the legs from the center and stand them legs up in an upside down V.

Step 2
Drill a ½ inch hole in either end of one of the legs of each hinged leg support.  Drill a matching hole in the 10 foot 2x4 and bolt it to the same side legs of each “V”.  Do the same thing with the other two 10 foot long 2x4’s.  Attach them about 2 or 3 feet above the ground.

Step 3
Attach the two six foot cross members across the A-frame on top of the lower lengthwise supports.  Attach half inch screw in eye bolts to each end of the cross members.  Eye bolts are handy for strapping down the boats with bungee cords.  Attach another pair of screw in eye bolts to the ends of the top lengthwise cross member.

Step 4
Paint the frame something earthy and let it dry.  Strap the kayak or canoe in place as shown in the picture.