DIY: Kick Boat Platform

Kick boats are inflatable watercraft that are aptly named because of an opening in the bottom for your feet. Fishermen often wear swim fins to propel the boat when trolling or moving to another spot. Kick boats are typically small, with limited space for fishing gear or camping accessories. Outfitting a kick boat with an elevated platform for a seat provides additional space that’s otherwise occupied when you sit on the floor of the boat. Any do-it-yourself enthusiast with average skills can make a sturdy platform with marine plywood, and PVC pipe for a frame.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 1/2-inch PVC pipe
  • PVC cutter or finish handsaw
  • Drywall sanding block
  • PVC primer and cement
  • 8 PVC 3-way elbows, 1 1/2-inch
  • 1/2-inch marine plywood
  • Circular saw
  • Power drill or cordless drill
  • 3/16-inch drill bit
  • 3/16-inch stainless steel machine screws with washers and nuts
  • Socket and ratchet
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Instructions

  1. PVC Frame

    • 1

      Measure the width between the inside faces of the inflatable tubes on each side of the boat at the area of the kicking hole. Deduct 3 inches from the measurement to account for the PVC 3-way corner elbows that attach at each end of the spanning rails for the frame, each of the corner elbows being 1 1/2-inch. That calculated measurement is the length needed for the spanning rails at the front and back of the frame.

    • 2

      Cut four pieces of 1 1/2-inch PVC pipe to the length you calculated from your measurement. These are the upper and lower spanning rails for both the front and back of the frame. Cut the pieces with PVC cutters or a finish handsaw. Sand off any burrs on the ends with a drywall sanding block.

    • 3

      Coat both ends of one spanning rail with PVC primer and cement. Fit one of the dual ports of a 3-way elbow fully onto one end. Fit the corresponding port of another elbow onto the opposite end, making sure the riser ports on both elbows are pointing the same way.

    • 4

      Repeat the previous step and attach elbows onto the ends of the three remaining spanning rails. At this point, you have four spanning rails fitted with 3-way elbows, and each elbow has an open dual port and an open riser port.

    • 5

      Cut four pieces of PVC pipe 24 inches long as the upper and lower side rails of the frame.

    • 6

      Complete the pair of rectangular frame sections by fitting the 24-inch long pieces into the open dual port on each elbow. Prime and cement each connection as you go. You will have two duplicate rectangular frame sections with elbows at each corner, all riser ports pointing the same direction on each frame section. One of the frame sections will be the bottom of the completed frame, the other will be the top.

    • 7

      Establish a height for the platform that allows you to propel the boat with your feet. The platform can be higher if you plan to use an outboard or trolling motor as propulsion.
      Deduct 3 inches for the elbows on the rectangular frames, and cut four pieces of PVC pipe to your calculated measurement as risers.

    • 8

      Place one of the frame sections on a flat surface with the riser ports on the elbows facing up. This will be the bottom of the frame. Attach a riser into each riser port at the corners of that frame section. Turn the remaining frame section over and attach the riser ports on the elbows onto the opposite ends of the risers to complete the frame.

    Plywood Platform

    • 9

      Place the PVC frame on a flat surface, as if it were inside the boat. Measure the width and length of the upper surface of the frame from the outer edges to establish the dimensions of the plywood platform.

    • 10

      Cut a piece of 1/2-inch marine plywood to size with a circular saw. Smooth the edges with the sanding block. Place the platform atop the frame, and even the ends and sides.

    • 11

      Set up a power drill or cordless drill with a 3/16-inch drill bit. Drill vertical holes along the outer edges of the platform and fully through the upper rails of the frame. Space the holes 6 inches apart.

    • 12

      Attach the platform to the frame with 3/16-inch stainless-steel machine screws, washers and nuts at each of the drilled locations. Tighten the nuts securely at the underside of the frame rails with a socket and ratchet to countersink the screw heads into the plywood.