DIY Kayak Pulley Garage Storage

Because a kayak is relatively lightweight, rigging a ceiling storage setup using ropes and pulleys is pretty simple. With just a few pulleys and some light rope, you can easily lift your kayak off the garage floor and store it tucked up against the ceiling.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 single pulleys with brackets 1 double pulley with brackets 2 boat hooks 1 rope tie-down cleat 3-inch screws 100-foot roll of 1/2-inch cord Screw-in wall hook
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Instructions

  1. Swinging Your Kayak

    • 1

      Measure the width of the kayak and divide the number by 2. Find the joists in the garage ceilings and screw two single pulleys to the ceiling joists approximately the length of your kayak apart and half its width from the wall plus a couple of inches.

    • 2

      Cut two 50-foot long cords. Tie boat hooks to the end of both cords. Thread the cords through the single pulleys.

    • 3

      Screw two more single pulleys close together to the wall, halfway between the ceiling pulleys. Make sure the screws go securely into a wall stud. Thread the cords through the pulleys so the ends come out parallel and angle downward.

    • 4

      Attach the double pulley near the floor toward the front of the garage and near the end of the kayak. Attach a second double pulley up near the ceiling. Thread the two cords through the lower double pulley, run them up to the ceiling near the second set of double pulleys and back down.

    • 5

      Attach the large flag rope bracket or boat rope tie-down bracket to the wall at waist height. Set the kayak on the floor and attach the boat hooks to the end brackets. Pull down on the ends of the cords to raise the kayak off the floor.

    • 6

      When the kayak is snug against the ceiling, wrap the loose ends of the ropes in a figure eight around the bracket to secure it in place. Install a hook beside the shelf bracket to hang the excess cord.