How to Build an Outside Kayak Rack

Proper storage of kayaks when they are out of the water is imperative for maintaining the structural integrity of the kayak and preventing cracks or holes, which can lead to leaks. The ideal way to store a kayak is standing upright in a rack. PVC pipe is a cheap material for building a sturdy rack for holding one or more kayaks. Adding wood dowels inside the supports of the rack help to add stability.

Things You'll Need

  • PVC pipe, 1 inch diameter
  • Tape measure
  • Saw
  • PVC elbows
  • PVC T-couplings
  • PVC 90-degree side outlet couplings
  • PVC four-way couplings
  • PVC end caps
  • Wood dowel, 5/8 inch diameter
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a piece of PVC 3 feet long, a piece of PVC 2 feet long, a piece of PVC 1 foot long and a piece of PVC 18 inches shorter than the length of the kayaks being racked.

    • 2

      Insert the long piece of coupling into the opening that is the bottom of the T in a T-coupling, and the 3-foot piece and 2-foot piece into the openings in the top of the T.

    • 3

      Cut a wood dowel that is 5 feet long and a wood dowel as long as the longest piece of PVC.

    • 4

      Insert the 5-foot dowel through the top of the T shape, and the remaining dowel inside the long piece of PVC.

    • 5

      Place an elbow on the end of the 3-foot piece of pipe so that the open end of the elbow is facing perpendicular to the long piece of PVC, and an elbow on the end of the 2-foot piece of pipe so that the open end of the elbow is facing parallel to the long piece of PVC.

    • 6

      Put the 1-foot piece of PVC in the open end of the elbow that is facing parallel to the long piece of pipe, and an elbow on the remaining open end of the 1-foot pipe so that the open end of the elbow is perpendicular to the long piece of PVC.

    • 7

      Place a 90-degree side outlet coupling atop the open end of the long pipe so that the remaining open ends are aligned over the 2-foot piece of pipe and parallel with the open end of the elbow on the 3-foot pipe. This completes one side piece of the rack.

    • 8

      Repeat for the second side piece, leaving the three open ends of couplings facing in the opposite direction as the first side piece.

    • 9

      Create one middle piece for every extra kayak your rack will hold, by repeating the pattern but using two T-couplings in place of the two open elbows and a four-way coupling in place of the 90-degree side outlet coupling, with the tops of the T's running perpendicular to the 3-foot piece of pipe. For example, a rack holding five kayaks would require four middle pieces.

    • 10

      Cut three wooden dowels that are 3 feet long for every kayak the rack will hold. The example rack would require dowels 15 feet long.

    • 11

      Cut three pieces of PVC that are 3 feet long each for every kayak the rack will hold.

    • 12

      Place a 3-foot pipe into each of the three openings of one side piece.

    • 13

      Connect a middle piece to the open ends of the three pipes from the prior step, then repeat the process until all the middle pieces are attached and only one side piece is not connected to the frame.

    • 14

      Insert a dowel through each of the open ends of the PVC pipes.

    • 15

      Attach the final side piece to the open ends of the three pipes.

    • 16

      Cut one piece of PVC pipe 2 feet long for each side piece and middle piece.

    • 17

      Place the pipes in the remaining openings in the side pieces' 90-degree side outlet couplings and the middle pieces' four-way couplings, and cap each with an end cap.