A DIY Hand Canoe Carrier

Getting your canoe from the truck to the beach is tough if you are a solo canoer or a parent taking small kids out on the lake. A lightweight, portable canoe carrier makes the job a lot easier. A simple cart can be made from PVC pipe and a little hardware from the local home-improvement store.

Things You'll Need

  • 3 PVC pipes, 1-1/2 inch schedule 40, 30 inches long
  • 2 PVC pipes, 1-1/2 inch schedule 40, 3 inches long
  • 4 PVC Tees, 1-1/2 inch schedule 40
  • 2 PVC caps, 1-1/2 inch schedule 40
  • 1 All thread rod, ½ inch by 40 inches long
  • 2 nuts, ½ inch
  • Drill, ¼-inch bit
  • 2 Keeper pins
  • 2 Cart or mower wheels with ½-inch shaft hole
  • 2 PVC pipes, 1-1/2 inch schedule 40, 12 inches long
  • 2 PVC 90-degree elbows, 1-1/2 inch schedule 40
  • PVC cleaner
  • PVC cement
  • 2 foam strips, 3 inches thick, 8 inches square
  • 4 zip ties
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clean the ends of a 30-inch pipe and glue PVC Ts to them. One opening of each T should face up and the other face out. Glue the three-inch pipes in the ends of the T and glue a cap on the ends.

    • 2

      Thread the bolts an inch down on the ends of the 40-inch-long threaded rod. Drill a quarter-inch hole through the ends of the rod about an eighth of an inch from the ends. The holes are for keeper pins to keep the bolts from coming off the axle. Back the nuts off the rod ends with a wrench. This will clean up the threads so you can put the nuts back on.

    • 3

      Drill half-inch holes in the caps, thread the 40-inch rod through the holes and the pipe. Thread the cart wheels through the ends of the rod and secure with nuts. Insert the keeper pins through the quarter inch holes to secure the wheels.

    • 4

      Glue two 12-inch pipes into the top of the Ts. Glue two Ts on the tops of the pipes with the open joints facing inward.

    • 5

      Glue a 30-inch pipe between the top Ts and two 15-inch pipes in the tops of the Ts.

    • 6

      Glue two 90-degree elbows to the top of the upright pipes facing inward and glue a 30-inch pipe between them. This forms a rectangular "8" shape. The canoe end goes in the top opening.

    • 7

      Wrap foam strips around the center cross bar at either end. Leave a gap in the center for the keel of the canoe. Secure the foam around the crossbar with zip ties at each end.

    • 8

      Slide one end of the canoe through the top opening of the frame sitting on top of the foam pads. Lean the frame toward the center of the canoe at the top with the wheels angled outward. The pressure of the top bar on the gunwales of the canoe will hold it in place while you roll it down to the lake or river. No need for bungee cords.