Video · DIY Builds & Mods
Homemade Kayak Rack: Building a Wooden Rack for 4 to 6 Kayaks
I built a wooden kayak rack from lumber with no plans, and I walk through the frame, concrete, rungs, sealing and what I'd improve.
What’s in this video
I wanted a rack that could hold my kayaks, canoe and SUP, so I bought some lumber and started throwing it together on my driveway. No plans, just a general idea in my head. Depending on the design style, this rack holds 4 to 6 kayaks.
I go through building the frame from 4×4 posts and 2×4 boards, setting the posts in fast setting concrete, adding the kayak rungs, and sealing the wood with Thompson’s Waterproof Sealer. I’m happy with how it turned out so far, and at the end I talk through a few improvements I’d make to the design.
Key moments
- 0:00 Introduction
- 0:18 Building the Frame
- 2:28 Setting in Concrete
- 3:22 Adding Kayak Rungs
- 5:20 Sealing and Protection
- 6:29 Final Design Thoughts
Quick takeaways
- You only need a saw, a drill and a tape measure to build it.
- I used 4×4 posts (longer is better, pressure treated is nice), 2×4 boards and 1/4" x 4.5" Spax PowerLag screws or larger.
- Plan on about 50 to 75 lbs of fast setting concrete per post.
- Seal the finished rack with a waterproof sealer to protect the wood.
Gear from this video
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