How to Make a Kayak Cart for Multiple Kayaks

Transport kayaks from your vehicle to a launch site with a lightweight cart made from PVC pipe. Kayaking is fun to do with other people so make your cart large enough for two kayaks. A double-decker design requires you to load one kayak onto the base and the other on the top tier. Bungee cords secure the boats to the cart while foam pool noodles will prevent the PVC from scratching the finish.

Things You'll Need

  • 20-feet 1-inch PVC pipe
  • Hacksaw
  • Drill
  • 1/2-inch drill bit
  • 3/16-inch drill bit
  • 24-inch piece of 1/2-inch steel rod
  • 10 T-connectors, 1-inch PVC
  • 8 45-degree elbows, 1-inch PVC
  • 8 90-degree elbows, 1-inch PVC
  • PVC cement
  • 2 – 1-inch reducers
  • 4 – 1/2-inch washers
  • 2 lawn mower wheels
  • 2 cotter pins
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut 20 3-inch pieces of 1-inch PVC pipe from the 20-foot length with a hacksaw. Cut two 6-inch pieces and four 12-inch pieces from the remaining 1-inch PVC.

    • 2

      Drill a half-inch hole in two T-connectors. Position the hole at the top of the T. These are for the axle rod.

    • 3

      Drill a three-sixteenths-inch hole through the ends of the axle rod. The holes need to be quarter-inch from the each end of the rod. The holes will accommodate the cotter pins.

    • 4

      Build a side of the cart base by placing two 3-inch pieces of PVC into the drilled T-connector. The T-connector’s T shape should be facing you. Secure the pieces with PVC cement. Place a 45-degree elbow piece in each 3-inch PVC piece, and glue together. Place a 3-inch piece in the end of each elbow and glue, and add a T-connector to each 3-inch piece. The T-connectors’ T shapes should be facing away from you. Glue the pieces together. Insert an additional 3-inch piece of pipe into the T-connector. After securing with glue, add a 90-degree elbow to each side. Follow this with a 3-inch piece on each side. Finish the ends with a 45-degree elbow piece.

    • 5

      Repeat Step 4 for the other side of the base.

    • 6

      Place a 3-inch piece in the top elbows of the side. Add a T-connector with the T shape facing up to each 3-inch piece. Place a 6-inch piece of PVC pipe between the top two T-connectors of the side. Secure with cement. Repeat for the other side.

    • 7

      Connect the two sides by inserting the two 12-inch pieces of PVC into the T-connectors. Glue the pieces together.

    • 8

      Slide the axle rod through the T-connectors in the middle using the holes drilled earlier.

    • 9

      Place the reducers onto each end of the axle rod. Follow the reducer with a washer on each end.

    • 10

      Slide a wheel onto each side of the axle rod. Follow the wheels with another washer.

    • 11

      Push the cotter pins through the holes in the ends of the axle rod to secure the wheels.

    • 12

      Insert the four 24-inch pieces of PVC into the T-connectors on the top of the base. Insert a 90-degree elbow to the end of each 24-inch piece. Secure all connections with cement.

    • 13

      Insert the last two 12-inch pieces into the elbows to join the two sides together to form the deck for the top kayak.

    • 14

      Cut a pool noodle open lengthwise with a utility knife. Slice sections of it to wrap around the pieces of PVC that will touch the kayaks, such as the crossbars that join the two sides.