Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge  

Go Back   Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge > Kayak Fishing Forum - Message Board > General Kayak Fishing Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-21-2013, 03:48 PM   #1
absentx
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 47
Overhead Kayak Storage

So I have two Hobie Outbacks that after buying discovered that these are simply not "light little kayaks" that are easy to move around!

They require a solid strategy in terms of putting on a trailer or securing to a roof. Additionally, they take up a lot of space so when they are not in use, they can get in the way of everything in your garage and be a bear to move!

Now, this is all fine, I am simply stating that it takes having them a bit to realize that two of them are pretty substantial in terms of storage and transportation.

With that in mind, last fall I set out to design and build an overhead storage rack for both the Outbacks in my garage. Frankly they were taking up tons of room on the ground and because they were awkward to lift and move around, I think it influences how much we use them. So my plan was to build an overhead rack that allowed me to easily raise and lower the kayaks without exerting a bunch of lifting power. My thought from the beginning had always been to use garage door rails and other garage door hardware and ultimately that is what I went with.

I know a lot of people would say "why didn't you just install a hoist??" Well, this was a lot more fun, I think it works really good and it just adds a ton of utility to my garage. I can hang stuff from it and really the sky is the limit.

I have attached some pictures of it. You'll see the one picture where I have it in "retrieval" mode with the safety straps holding at the proper angle I want to just pull the kayak right off the rack. The tow straps ended up being a solution that I improvised after the rack was done. I wanted additional safeties in place so I always put two tow straps under each kayak, those same tow straps end up being what I use to restrict the angle at which the rack can rest during load/unload.

Ultimately, I want to add on some awesome spring loaded system that not only reduces the weight you feel as you raise and lower it, but makes it even more safe...I guess I will add that part on this summer.

Anyways, just wanted to share my storage solution and see some strategies other people have used and talk about spring/weight engineering if anyone felt up to it!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg in_position.jpg (57.8 KB, 268 views)
File Type: jpg lowered_front.jpg (56.8 KB, 263 views)
File Type: jpg lowered_side.jpg (55.0 KB, 262 views)
File Type: jpg ready_to_lower.jpg (57.3 KB, 260 views)
File Type: jpg straps.jpg (53.8 KB, 260 views)
absentx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2013, 04:06 PM   #2
StinkyMatt
Senior Member
 
StinkyMatt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Under a bridge
Posts: 2,169
Very creative, I need that!



Please reply with price and date when you will complete the fabrication of mine.





Does the back end come down too? Or does it slide down at an angle?
StinkyMatt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2013, 04:31 PM   #3
momo fish
Senior Member
 
momo fish's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Camarillo
Posts: 1,491
you my friend have a lot of time on your hand..lol

good work and idea......
momo fish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2013, 04:58 PM   #4
Deamon
Senior Member
 
Deamon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,972
Very, very nice!!! Please allow some advice. If you only got rid of all of your buckets and ice chests, you'd have plenty of room...plastic buckets, wooden tubs, round ice chests, square ones...thank me later.
__________________
Recreational Fisherman's Catch...2%
Commercial Fisherman's Catch- 98%
Recreational Fishing Kayakers Catch- .00001%
"The reality is that the wall was built to keep all Asians ~specifically Japanese and those that think they're japanese~ out of the U.S"

Deamon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2013, 05:02 PM   #5
roadx
.
 
roadx's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,155
best system i have seen yet. how many beers out in the garage that take?
__________________
roadx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2013, 05:04 PM   #6
oneyedeer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Orange County, ca
Posts: 684
very nice but one concern....heat. Being up that high it's gonna be hot and it will soften the plastic to the point it might cause imprints and warping. Maybe just flip it over?
oneyedeer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2013, 05:23 PM   #7
GregAndrew
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,384
Very kewl, especially if they slide right down on the racks and/or trailer. I knew I was saving my Erector set for something.
GregAndrew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2013, 05:36 PM   #8
jorluivil
Senior Member
 
jorluivil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,856
That's one of the best ideas yet.


To bad you can't drive your truck into the garage and drop the yaks on some saddles.


GOOD JOB!!!!
__________________


www.facebook.com/Teamsewer
jorluivil is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:07 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
© 2002 Big Water's Edge. All rights reserved.