Looking to shield your kayak or canoe from the elements, but running out of room in the garage? Nick’s Life Outside demonstrates a clever solution to hoist your boat up above your vehicle, and all for a bargain basement price.
An Ingenious Way to Store Your Kayak or Canoe
In this DIY tutorial, Nick shows how to put together a nifty little storage solution with just a few basic hardware store supplies. We’re not talking two-by-fours either; all you’ll need are D-rings, S-hooks, cam straps and a bit of free airspace.
First, screw two D-rings into a ceiling joist about three feet apart—or wider if you have an especially broad boat. Move several joists down and add a second set of D-rings, far enough from the first set to support your craft. Nick’s joists are easy to see, or you can use a stud finder to pinpoint the exact location.
Next, use S-hooks and cam straps to fashion two matching cradles suspended from the D-rings. These cradles will hold your boat, so make sure the hardware is properly rated for the weight, plus some wiggle room. Use the cam straps to ratchet your boat up and out of the way of your vehicle.
As Nick notes, “this setup isn’t specific to canoes, so this can be used for a large variety of paddle craft. I personally have used this with my Jackson Cuda, Moken 12 and even a Slayer Propel 13, which is a fairly large fishing kayak—a really heavy boat.”
Cradle Works for Cleaning and Maintenance Too
Beyond storage, suspending your boat at shoulder height can make it easier to clean and maintain. Once in the cradle, Nick wipes down his canoe and treats it with some spray wax. “Just make sure whatever you use is all-natural,” he advises.
This is a great idea. I love that you can snug it up against the ceiling.
i have this set up but so i can drive my car under the straps so i just jimmy the nose and bum in and lift it off my car