DIY Kayak Dolly

Carrying your kayak and equipment from your car to the water can tire you out before you even get on the water. An easier way to transport your kayak is to simply put it on a dolly that you can wheel around. A dolly can cost as much as $150 at a kayak supply store. Luckily, with a little ingenuity, you can make yourself one for considerably less money.

  1. Parts of the Kayak Dolly

    • The kayak dolly has three main parts: the base, the axle and the cradle. The base of the kayak will provide the supporting structure which will connect the cradle to the axle. The axle will hold the wheels in place, which allows you to easily transport your kayak. Finally, the cradle supports the kayak itself. There are a number of ways to design a cradle. A cradle could be made from top bars which the kayak sits on which you then tie in place using straps. Or you could create a cradle which has bars pointing straight up. These bars would go through the kayak's two scupper holes, which are the holes in your kayak used to bail out water, which will then hold the kayak in place. Either way, the kayak will be moved by tilting the kayak so it's balanced on the dolly, and moving it along holding either the tie-down straps or the kayak handle.

    Materials

    • For a long-lasting kayak dolly, metal is the best material to use. However, if you don't have access to metal-cutting tools, you can also make your kayak out of PVC pipe. The axle will need to be made from a metal rod. You'll need to be able to attach wheels. The rod can be hollow, allowing you to drill a small hole and attach wheels using a cotter pin. Another way of attaching wheels is by using a threaded metal rod, allowing you to secure the wheel using a bolt that you screw in place. The best kind of wheels for sand is pneumatic wheels, however solid plastic wheels can also be used. Finally, if you are making a cradle with tops bars, you will want to protect the hull of your kayak from scratches. Foam from swimming pool noodles are the easiest way to cover the top bars.

    Measurements

    • The axle and the base should be at least as wide as the distance between your two scupper holes. If you will be building cradle bars that go through the scupper holes, you will want to use bars that closely match the width of your scupper hole. Too big, and they won't fit; too small, and they won't give enough support. An ideal-sized wheel for a kayak dolly is about 10 inches in diameter, however this size wheel is not the only size wheel you can use. If you find something a little bigger or smaller, that can work just as well.