How to Build a Kayak Storage Rack

ADVERTISING

LuxoGear Emergency Whistles with Lanyard

Shop now »

NOCO Genius GEN5X2, 2-Bank, 10A (5A/Bank) Smart Marine Battery Charger

Shop now »

RHINO USA Boat Trailer Transom Straps (2PK)

Shop now »

LUCKY Kayak Portable Fish Depth Finder

Shop now »

Seaview 180 V3 Full Face Snorkel Mask

Shop now »

Most popular comments
for How to Build a Kayak Storage Rack

Live comments
Comments on YouTube

Kristen Hartnagel - 6 years ago

Can you provide a materials list?

Jim Thomas - 6 years ago

OK, I have added a materials list to the descriptions section of the video.

Bill McGonigle - 6 years ago

Just what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing.

Janet Jackson - 7 years ago

Just finished ours here in Bosque County Texas for 6 kayaks, Great plan, very sturdy, total material cost $150. Thank you so much for the plan.

scott fischer - 7 years ago

Built this today in about 2 Hrs. Great design with great directions. Works Excellent !! Thanks for sharing.

Jim Thomas - 7 years ago

Thanks for the comment Scott. Glad it worked out for you !

Jeremy Carter - 7 years ago

Awesome thank you! Built mine today using this video. Turned out perfect

rmt54457 - 7 years ago

I built this this weekend. I used 5" bolts to attach the arms. A 4" bolt won't go through 3 boards. I used 4" lag screws to attach the 2x6 cross-members. I used 5.5 inch bolts to attach the uprights. If I had to do it over again, I would not use 24" between the top of the lower rack and the bottom of the higher rack. You end up with a lot of wasted space.

The 34.5" arms weren't long enough to hold my canoe. They worked fine for the kayaks. If you are storing a canoe, I would make the arms 42". I just added a 2x4 on top of the plan racks, but all the wight of the canoe sits on the center seat, that way, so it's not ideal.

The rack is very sturdy, so basically a great plan, but don't be afraid to modify it to your own needs.

Candance Brunswick - 7 years ago

Excellent video. Thank you.

Tom Moran - 7 years ago

Built this yesterday. Great step by step directions including what materials you will need. Luckily i had an air tool socket wrench which sped up the process. Great video. Thanks

Jim Thomas - 7 years ago

Thanks for the feedback ... I hope it will last you many years !

PatrickASullivan6 - 7 years ago

Just built a four kayak rack and followed these directions - very easy. I made it 6' high and it worked great. Thanks for sharing!

10. comment for How to Build a Kayak Storage Rack

SWEETMCKAY - 7 years ago

Thank you so much for sharing! Going to make one this weekend :)

Joe Merlino - 7 years ago

Thanks Jim, great instructional video. My wife and I made this a weekend day project and knocked it out. Only have two kayaks so we went six feet tall for four kayak spaces. We also just got a 15 foot canoe and lodged it under the kayak racking lengthwise. Best to you.

Jimbo Jones - 7 years ago

Built this in an afternoon with some minor modifications, 4X4 pressure treated for the base because I don't plan on moving it much and I simply rounded the ends of the arms. Your directions are clear and easy to follow, thanks for posting this!

64maxpower - 8 years ago

Good work.It balances itself out. Clean and simple. I like

L B Heit - 8 years ago

Jim
What angle are the arms that hold the kayak? Probably not critical but would wondered what angle you used to keep the kayaks from slipping off the edge.

L B Heit - 8 years ago

Thanks

Jim Thomas - 8 years ago

I just measured mine and it looks like I went with about 30 degrees...

Corey Mcniel - 8 years ago

If you want you can learn from woodprix scripts how to make it yourself.

Jeff Gushue - 8 years ago

Built one this morning. Great instructional video. I added cross bracing for added rigidity, and a pair of wheels on one side so I can move it more easily.

Jim Thomas - 8 years ago

Great additions... thanks for sharing !

Don Weston - 8 years ago

Used your plans for 6 kayaks and then had to add cross bracing to stop it from racking. Whole thing took just a couple of hours and cost less than $300. Thanks!!

Nannette Battista - 8 years ago

I am sure that you will find good way to make it on woodprix Webpage.

Heartland Dual Sport - 8 years ago

Excellent video buddy, Thanks for taking the time t share it with us.

20. comment for How to Build a Kayak Storage Rack

Caroline Henley - 9 years ago

I have had this video bookmarked for over a year.. We finally got around to building it yesterday and it looks GREAT!!! Thanks for posting!!!

Michael Mendez - 9 years ago

Very solid! I just finished mine, thanks so much for posting! One comment on the angle of the arms, you get more area for all four bolts to hit when you go with 30 degrees!

Clayton Ketchum - 9 years ago

Thanks, Jim. I am NO craftsman, but was able to put together a 4 kayak rack with relative ease! It also provided a good reason to purchase a new drill!

Jim Thomas - 9 years ago

+Clayton Ketchum Glad it worked out for you - and congratulations on the new drill !

Shawn McCabe - 9 years ago

Great idea, and easy to build. I only have 4 kayaks, so I built mine 6' tall. I also put heavy duty casters on it. Makes it a lot easier to move it around in the garage or moving it outside.

Chun Martinez - 9 years ago

I just finished making one but I made the angle of the arms 15 degrees instead of 30 and the look more normal and works better. But maybe if I were dragging the rack with a tractor then 30 degrees would ensure that none of them falls out when moving.

Kirk L - 9 years ago

Just used to your video to help me make a 4 kayak storage rack! Thanks for making the video! It was a great help!

Julie Kypreos - 10 years ago

Dear Jim,
I wanted to tell you that I did build today a kayak storage Rack as per your basic design with my 11 year old son, as we have 2 kayaks and two SUP boards and I want to thank you for sharing your design with all of us. I inverted the two third tier arms and made them 4 feet long and thus created a simple roof over rack, as I do not need the third set of arms. It worked very well and I am grateful for your idea and instruction.

Nick Kypreos.

Chuck Anderson - 10 years ago

Thanks for sharing your rack design and for putting together such a great instructional video. I used your plan and materials list as the basis for a rack to hold our five boats. As two of our kayaks were tandems, I made the arms for one side of the lower tier 44" to accommodate our sit-on top tandem, I also added vertical supports to each lower arm, attaching them to the skid. On the other side of the lower tier, I chose to use no arms for our sit-in tandem, preferring to rest the tandem on its edge, atop the skids.

Fritz Lang - 10 years ago

hi Jim,
why the slanted cradle arms?

Michael Hall - 10 years ago

color coded, nice! After damaging my kayak by stacking my son's on top, I plan to build a kayak holder also. I've got three, but I think I'll build for more, just in case:!
thanks for the video

30. comment for How to Build a Kayak Storage Rack

Jim Thomas - 11 years ago

JollyRoger, Yes, if I had it to do over I might only put 18" between the levels rather than 24". Lifting that top kayak on and off is a bit of a stretch - even for someone that is 6' tall. Glad the rack is working for you and thanks for commenting. Best wishes to you and yours !

jollyrogerkayaks - 11 years ago

Hello Jim. Thanks for posting this. I just built one, but modified it abit by reducing the distance between the arms to 12" so I can put paddleboards on it. It should fit 10; however, the top rung is kind of high so I doubt we'll be using that much. I am a very novice craftsman, and I was able to make it; although, I did mess up a little bit but it will still work. I measured my cross beams at 5' instead of 5'7" (oops!). I am planning to build two more for my kayaks.

Jim Thomas - 11 years ago

Thanks Mississippi. Best wishes on your project !

Mississippi Kayak - 11 years ago

Great video! I just started building one today...!!!

Jim Thomas - 11 years ago

Jeff, The vertical up-right risers are 2"X6"X8 foot tall and the horizontal top brace is a landscape timber that should measure 4' &9""... if you have put the up-right risers on the inside of the 4"X6" sled runners.

Jeff Kondrad - 11 years ago

Jim, What's the size of the top brace and the 2 large pieces that are the up main structure

Jim Thomas - 11 years ago

Yes, it is 5' 7" wide.

Jeff Kondrad - 11 years ago

Jim, What's the with of the kayak tree. Is it 5'7" wide? jeff

Jim Thomas - 11 years ago

Thanks for the comment, Midnight. You might like to take a look at a video I made called "How to build a Rod Holder". Best wishes - and have a great summer !

midnightmish - 11 years ago

thanks jim!!!! im building one this sunday what an easy project im even going the extra step and cut foam noodles ans attaching them to the arms to prevent scratches! have any more easy projects like this one?

Jim Thomas - 11 years ago

Kevin, That would be fine with me. Best wishes with your rental site. Auf Wiedersehen!

Kevin Heusinger - 11 years ago

Hey Jim. We're going to set up a little kayak rental site in germany. Would you give us the permission to use around 20 seconds from your video (minute 2:30). For a small promo video. Would be great! Kevin

Jim Thomas - 12 years ago

Hope it goes well for you. Post a pic if you get the chance.

Daniel Lord - 12 years ago

Simple, elegant design—just what I was looking for. I have pressure-treated 4x4s and lots of nice redwood from a deck I took apart. Setting up the miter saw today and building this! Thanks.

s77 - 12 years ago

Thanks for sharing this great elaborate instructional video. I will make one pretty soon. Tight Lines

Jim Thomas - 12 years ago

Thanks for the comment. Hope it serves you well for many years.

Jim Thomas - 12 years ago

Great ! Hope it serves you well. Mine is still holding up fine. The four rack option should be easier to move . Good luck getting it finished up.

abncivilian - 12 years ago

This is awesome! I just started one tonight. Only for 4 kayaks though. Pretty easy project once you get going. I only have three arms to put on in the morning. I ran out of bolts or it would be done now. I guess I should have counted better. haha. Thanks a lot!

Jim Thomas - 13 years ago

@gald4540 To make a rack for four kayak's you would only need two - 48 inch high (2x6) risers.

Dennis Galligher - 13 years ago

What would be the height of the vertical boards if I were making a 4 kayak tree stand. Great Job

50. comment for How to Build a Kayak Storage Rack

Bellybuster Bob - 13 years ago

do you find the arms long enuff for the sit on tops?

Bellybuster Bob - 13 years ago

outstanding, one of these will be in my yard this weekend

Jim Thomas - 13 years ago

@larrylynn123 Thanks for the comment. I didn't mention it in the video, but I used a clamp and a couple 3 " screws to hold the arms inplace while pre drilling the pilot holes. Best wishes on your project !