My Attempt at Kayak Storage

Well, I have to come clean and fess up about not storing my Wilderness System and Dagger kayaks properly. For the past year they have hung from my garage using pulleys and rope tied off to the carrying handles. I've been reading a lot lately about how this can cause oil canning and compromise the hull. When I finally got my Hobie Outback a while back, I knew that I'd have to store this upside down and that a better storage system was in order. I started searching the web for ideas, and concluded that I could build an adequate storage rack myself for about $70. After a quick trip to Lowes and Harbor Freight, I got out a few power tools and went to work.


Improperly stored WS kayak (yellow). The Hobie Outback (red) was only on its side to create a little more space in the garage to build the storage rack. Usually it is stored upside down, as per the manufacture's recommendation.


The project required 12 2x4s and 2.5" deck screws. Taking into account the height of the 4" caster wheels, I designed the rack so that there was about a 2" clearance from the opened garage door.


After studying 20+ pictures online of other storage systems, I decided to reinforce the corners to reduce sway.


With the skeleton of the rack finished, I attached the caster wheels to the bottom braces, which I beefed up using a double stack of 2x4 material. These have been glued and screwed from both the top and bottom. It ain't going anywhere!


Mostly finished! Made it out to the driveway with ease. I designed the cart with the notion that a Hobie Rev 13 will be in my future plans. For now, the WS kayak hangs a little lower that it will once the Rev 13 is purchased. It will sit above the Outback on the second deck of the rack just under the yellow WS kayak. Also, I have not yet mounted the Dagger kayak, which will be on the opposite side of the WS because I need to get more webbing material. In all, this rack will accommodate 4 kayaks.


I will be picking up some 2" webbing and using this in place of the pictured 1" material. Also, instead of using the large carabiners, I plan on having my wife sew D-rings onto the webbing and hanging them using a few strategically placed J hooks.


A pool noodle was used to provide a cushioning layer for the Hobie. As you can tell from the photo, there are three 2x4s running across the rack to give proper support to the kayak.


One more view. I toyed with the idea of leaving one side of the rack open for easier access to the kayaks, but I wasn't happy with the stability. The Outback is surprisingly easy to slide onto the bottom rack as is. I simply lie a blanket on the pavement to protect the hull before sliding the Outback on the rack. There is 24" of clearance between the bottom and middle racks, so there is room to vertically maneuver the kayak to help distribute the weight to get it to slide. The Yakattack gear tracks don't hang up at all on the foam cushions like I initially thought.

Very happy this project is done. Only took about 4 hours, but it took a couple of days due to my work schedule and family obligations. Happy to answer any question you might have, and I am also open to ideas to improve it!

That's Prity sweet i want to do that but my shed is to filled up with saddles and other stuff.

I can't get over how clean those kayaks are.

I like it.  the 1st picture looks too much like my current storage system just minus two saw horses.

I can't get over how clean those kayaks are.

Yeah, the pictures make the kayaks look like they just came off the sale's floor. lol

I did just apply 303 protectant to both kayaks, hence the shine. But both boats have plenty of scrapes on the bottom.

I store my outback on it's side on a small dolly. The dolly is covered with carpeting for a little cushion. I wrote Hobie about storing it this way, and they said it was fine to store on its side. It takes up less room, and being able to roll it out to the driveway for loading is very handy.

both revo`s have plug in carts on to keep them on side on my garage floor on scrap of carpet. no dents yet.