DIY Boat Rack

That little canoe or rowboat my not have a motor, but you want to protect it for years to come. One way to do this is by elevating your watercraft when it's not in use to allow complete drying, and make it difficult for anything to build a home underneath it. Basic boat racks require very little time and materials, and will keep your boat in prime condition for many more summers on the lake.

Things You'll Need

  • 4 square posts, 5-feet
  • 4 lengths lumber, 2-in by 4-inch by 4-feet
  • 4 lengths lumber, 2-inch by 4-inch by 6-feet
  • 10 lengths lumber, 2-inch by 4-inch by 8-feet
  • 2 lengths lumber, 2-inch by 4-inch by 12-feet
  • Saw
  • Drill
  • Screws, 1 box
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay two of the 5-foot posts on the ground, parallel to each other with 4-feet between them. Lay two of the 4-foot lengths of lumber perpendicular to and on top of them to make a 4-foot by 4-foot square frame, with 1-foot of post extending beyond the square on one side. Screw the four pieces in place, and repeat with the remaining two 5-foot posts and two 4-foot lengths.

    • 2

      Make an X-shape in each wooden square, using two of the 6-foot lengths of lumber for each square. Drill each X in place, and saw off any excess lumber extending beyond the square corners. You should now have two 4-foot square frames with crossed center braces and 1-foot of post sticking up from the top of either end.

    • 3

      Stand the frames up (posts pointed toward the sky) parallel to each other with 8 feet in between them. Use either a tree or another person to help keep them standing. Screw the midpoints of four of the 8-foot lengths of lumber onto their base sides, so that 16-feet of lumber runs along the ground on either side to hold the frames in place. Use small pieces of wood scraps to attach the 8-foot lengths to each other with the drill and screws.

    • 4

      Screw the two12-foot lengths to the tops of the frame sides (one foot beneath the post tops), parallel to the attached 8-foot lengths. Be sure that the 12-foot lengths are centered on the 4-foot by 8-foot rectangle, and extend 2 feet beyond each frame side. Either end of the entire structure should have 4 feet of lumber extending at either side of the bottom, and two feet of lumber extending from either side of the top.

    • 5

      Attach the top excess lengths to the bottom ones on both sides and ends with 4 diagonally placed lengths of 8-foot lumber. Saw off excess diagonal lumber extending above the top 12-foot length.

    • 6

      Saw the one remaining 8-foot length in half, and screw each 4-foot piece into the ends of the extended lengths at the base. This will provide extra support with a 4-foot square frame that sits on the ground at either end of the complete structure. Boats can be placed upside down over the 5 foot post tops for storage.