How to Build a Water Ski Rack

After a season of waterskiing, you will need a place to store your water ski equipment. You can purchase a rack or make it a do-it-yourself project. Building your own rack enables you to be creative and to customize the measurements and materials as necessary. You can paint the rack to match your wall or add more shelves to hold as many water skis as you have.

Things You'll Need

  • Saw
  • 2 studs, 2-by-4 inches, 6 feet long
  • Tape measure
  • Pencil
  • 3/4-inch dowel, 6 feet long
  • Drywall screws
  • 2 lengths of foam pipe insulation, 4 feet long
  • Heavy-duty shears
  • Latex caulk
  • Caulk gun
  • Drill
  • 3/4-inch drill bit
  • Bevel gauge
  • Fine sandpaper
  • Level
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Instructions

    • 1
      Use a saw to divide the studs.

      Use the saw to cut the length of the 2-by-4 studs in half. This will fit and store two pairs of water skis. You can adjust the length depending on the number of skis you intend to store.

    • 2

      Use the ruler to measure the amount of space you need in the rack for your water skis. Mark the spacing on the stud with a pencil, leaving enough space between the crossbars to accommodate your skis.

    • 3

      Drill 1.25-inch holes into the wood by following the marks you've made. The holes will be for the dowels. Start drilling at least six inches from the edge. The holes should be at least 15 inches apart. Use the bevel gauge to drill at a slight angle. You will need four holes on each side for storing two pairs of water skis.

    • 4
      Measure and cut the dowels to size.

      Use the saw to cut the dowels into 6-inch segments and sand the tips with the sand paper.

    • 5

      Insert the 6-inch dowels into the stud holes with the sanded tips out. Apply a drop of latex caulk around each dowel's base and cover with pipe insulation. Cut the pipe insulation to the appropriate size using the heavy-duty shears. The pipe insulation is cushioning to protect your water ski.

    • 6

      Choose a space on your wall to hang the 2-by-4 studs that will serve as shelves for your water skis. Mount the studs parallel to each other with enough space to fit your equipment. Drill the drywall screws on all four edges and the centers to stabilize the studs.

    • 7

      Screw the 2-by-4 studs into the wall 3 to 4 feet apart so that the dowels have enough clearance and will not interfere with the bindings. Use the level to ensure the studs are hung horizontally level.