How to Build a Kayak Rack

If you're tired of finding critters crawled up in your kayak or dumping water out after a rainstorm, it's time for you to build a kayak rack. Here's a quick, clean design that will rack up to three boats. It's made of wood and a few bolts and only needs some basic hand tools and a passing acquaintance with carpentry to bang it together.

Things You'll Need

  • 4 treated boards, 2 by 4 inch stud length
  • 5 treated boards, 2 by 4 inch by 10 feet long
  • 2 treated boards, 2 by 4 inch by 6 feet long
  • Circular saw
  • Socket wrench set
  • Drill and drill bits
  • 12 1-1/2 inch galvanized screws
  • 2 door hinges
  • 8 carriage bolts, 1/2 inch by 4 inches long with washers and nuts
  • 8 eye screws, 3/8 inch
  • Screwdriver set
  • 4 to 8 bungee cords, 6 feet long
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Instructions

  1. The A-Frame Kayak Rack

    • 1

      Lay two stud-length two-by-fours end to end. Attach the hinges to one side so the hinge joint is between them. Repeat with the other pair. Flip the board pairs over, hinge side down. Lift one up in the center to form an inverted V-shaped pair of legs. Lay the pair flat on the ground in the V shape. Do the same with the other pair.

    • 2

      Lay the 3-foot two-by-four across the two legs to form an "A" shape. Screw the cross member into the edge of the two-by-four legs 2 feet above the ground with the ends of the cross member extending at least 2-1/2 feet beyond the outside of the legs. Repeat with the other leg pair.

    • 3

      Stand up the end frames facing each other 8 feet apart. Screw one of the 10-foot two-by-fours to the top of the frame along one side to form a ridgepole with a one-foot overhang on each end. Screw two more to the outside of the frame, just above the cross members on the outside of the legs to provide support and rigidity to the frame.

    • 4

      Screw the other two 10-foot boards to the ends of the cross members running lengthwise to the frame. This creates a kind of shelf at the end of the cross members to keep the kayak from sliding off.

    • 5

      Screw eye screws into the ends of each cross member to provide a connection for the bungee cord tie-downs that hold the kayaks in place. Screw two more pairs on each side of the end frame to provide a tie-down at the top of each leg. Wrap the strips of carpet over the tops of the cross members and the side board attached to the ends of the cross members. Staple them down to provide protection for the hull of your boats.