Homemade Kayak mounting ideas

[westexasrepublic]

Now I didnt want to be that guy that started a new thread on a dead horse, so I added "homemade"...and exactly what the name implies. I was wondering if someone could share ideas on what they did or how I can do it, My kayakS are Pelican Sunstream 8 footers and would need to mount to my Roof Rack. But heres why it would need to be home made or altered from manufactured brackets. My roof rack is not factory, it is Fabed up by myself out of 3/4" square steel tubing.
Heres a pic to visually understand what Im working with and what you might do if you had my set up.

 

[Clark White]

My Dad and I built a combined canoe kayak rack out of some 2x4's. I wish I had some pics, but it would be simple enough to do the same thing for just a kayak. Basically, it is a box frame cut to fit the rack so that it fits snugly front and back. The front and back of the frame was then built up with a large peace of wood (I think it was just two or three 2x4's stacked on top of each other). We then cut out and partial oval to match the shape of the kayak. Peaces of thick carpet scrounged from the local carpet shop were then stapled to provide padding and make it easier to slide the kayak over the wood. We would put two straps in an X over the middle and just bungees at the bow and stern. Work's great and has carried the canoe and kayak (at the same time) all over the US.

Clark

P.S. It is the same concept as this ( http://www.kayak4redfish.com/images/car-rack.gif ) but made out of 2x4's.

 

[westexasrepublic]

I was thinking about 2x4's, but turned long ways, and was just trying to figure out how to mount it to the rack as temporary. Also I wasnt thinking carpet since it seems real slippery for the yaks the come off, any other suggested material?

 

[ExpoMike]

Since I don't have kayak's or even have ever been in one, I am not sure if I'll understand all the issues with mounting them but as far as a mount, you could look at using angle iron running lengthwise, which could u-bolt (or bolt thru) you rack and use wide flat stock bent to match the curve of the bottom of the kayak. Then weld those to your angle iron.

Something like this,

 

[Clark White]

Friction from the tie down straps held the kayak mount in place on the roof, while being wedged between the tracks and cross bars kept it from being able to slide any. I don't recall any problems with the boats shifting on the carpet, though I can see that being a concern. Not sure where you could get it, but if you could cut and glue the same foam stuff they sell at REI and the like as canoe mounts (just the gray foam that fits over the gunwalls and you tie the canoe down upside down on the roof). Or maby some sort of furniture sliders from Wal Mart or the like?

 

[Nitromethane43]

Personally I would go for the J style holders since they are a lot easier to use with longer boats and you can stack more in the same space, since you only have an 8 footer any mount should do. To fabricate a j style one just get some conduit or square tube and bend a hook at one end, something like this when viewed from the side, two of these can be welded with some straight bars on the top and bottom so tie down straps can be used to secure your kayak. Right now I'm lazy, a cad version can be drawn up later if clarification is needed.

(note please ignore the dots)


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[westexasrepublic]

THANKS GUYS FOR THE IDEAS, i THINK IM GONNA GO WITH THE "J" STYLE LIKE MENTIONED, SINCE I WANT TO STACK THAT WAY TO FIT BOTH KAYAKS ON TOP OF MY LITTLE ROOF...