Kayak Rack - Custom and Cheap

I needed an inexpensive custom way to transport my kayaks on the top of my new to me tent trailer. You can buy kits to transport kayaks, but they come with cheap straps and only one shape. I always use ratchet straps to tie down my boats, never the pull straps or simply ropes, they are just way more tighter and you have less chace of them coming loose..

This Instructable uses inexpensive materials to make a safe and durable way to transport any kayak.

You can modify this to fit any shape of kayak. You can even add more supports for your longer kayaks. This design will also work for transporting Kayaks on the roof of cars and trucks.

20 Foam Square Pads

Gorilla Glue, Wood Glue

Clamps

Straight edge

Square

Box Cutter Knife

Duct Tape

Using a box cutter knife and straight edge remove all of the foam tabs.

Find the center of the pads.

Using your straight edge (square) cut the pads in half.

This will give you twice as many pads. You can use the whole pad but you will use twice as much materials for same result.

Once you have all your pieces cut, arrange them to find your shape.

I cut some pieces to help form the shape of the bottom of the kayak.

Be creative.

Make a new piece for each end, they do not need to be the same.

Using Gorilla glue and wood glue, glue each piece to each other.

Note: I had these two glues available, any glue suitable for foam will work.

Using the same method as in woodworking clamp your foam blocks together.

I left it for 24 hours to cure.

Once your claps are released, your new blocks should be ready to use.

I added duct tape around the block to secure the block layers. This step can be skipped but will help with the life of the blocks and stop them from splitting over time.

Set your kayak on your new blocks and ensure everything fits as you designed.

Now you are complete.

Your kayak should be nice and tight to you r trailer, car or truck.

I always use one ratchet strap on each end and one across the middle.

Double redundancy will save you and give you piece of mind that everything is secure.

I hope you found this Instructable useful.

This kayak is nice a square on the top side.

A couple pool noddles and some rope is all you need.

I threaded the rope through the noodle and made a complete loop.

Then I tired the two loops together so that they would not slip away.

Then I tied down the kayak with ratchet straps.

I always do one on each end and one across the middle. Double redundancy will save you.