Cool design couple of things you could do. in the middle of the boards you could cut them in half put a door hinge. That way you could fold it and pack it. If you want lift assistance up the ramp you could put a boat trailer hand winch on the other side .it could also save your shins when taking down the boat.
I did some more research into this idea, and for some reason remembered the old Shingle elevators to getting shingle bundle to the roof top. I now think I could use your idea with some of the DIY shingle elevators I have seen and make a self contained portable electric unit that could easily, cheaply, and light weight move a small boat to the top top of a vehicle(pretty sure it would be under $100 and require no special tool). Basically all you would need are 2 pole with a pulley attached to a board on top of the poles. Then a saddle to hold the boat between the poles and a small winch on the bottom to pull the boat up(or a crank arm on the side to do it manually).
Normally I trailer my kayaks but when I haul my camper I have to fight my PA's weight up to a rack over my cab and box and man it sucks. I've been thinking about a pully system from a tree or something. I love this idea and I will probably try something similar. One thing I noticed is how much flex and bounce your 2x4's have. I bet if you ripped one 2x4 in half and attached underneath it forming a T, it would reduce that dramatically. I'd probably glue and screw it. As for wheels vs pvc... I think less resistance of pvc might be easier to push it up but the wheels create little pauses that might help your body in standing up and pushing vs a constant equal force wanting to follow gravity down. Also about pvc... I'm not sure where you are located but for me here in Nebraska I've been using pvc on my kayak trailers since 2014 and out of out of 10 pieces none have gone bad from the cold or uv damage yet. We had 36 below temperatures last winter. Where I see the biggest issue with pvc is dirt from your hull of your kayak will embed into the pvc or vice versa and that causes friction and wearing on both surfaces. You can cover pvc with outdoor carpet glued to the surface that contacts your kayak but I've seen sand embed in that as well if you don't pressure wash regularly. Carpet does help reduce friction though. All in all you made a very useful tool that I sure haven't considered yet so thank you for the video!
I built a duck blind for a boat a few years back out of PVC and it started cracking and breaking on the first duck hunt. Maybe I had a bad batch but I've stayed away from it ever since. I figured I'd need to run a piece of alluminum up the backside of the 2x4's once they dried out for extra support. That's the plan anyways. Whatever works for you - do it!
Question: why wheels? Wouldn’t the kayak slide up just as easily on plastic strips or even PVC pipe mounted to the wood? I like the idea but those wheels are pricey imho.
Nice design. (On an unrelated note, I suggest you replace the scupper cart. Eventually, it is going to crack the scupper holes, even though they are reinforced.)
Thank you Steve. I’ll only have this kayak for another 12 months and then it will be sold - for the 2022 model. Once that warranty goes, time to let it ride. These kayaks are too expensive to not have a warranty.
For lowering the kayak. Have you thought of using a hand winch on the other side to pull up and release as well. Im sure you can attach it to a board and attach that board onto your roof racks other end to pull it up & let down along with your system.
I actually sold the kayak since then because I couldn’t stand to sit in one spot for hours at a time. I have busted discs and they really inflamed to the point of the kayak not being enjoyable.
Very nice, had you thought about putting your ramps on the back of your car, closer together ,and pushing the boat up nose/tail first? I have the same boat but mine needs to get to the roof of the shell on my truck.
How do you transport the pair of 10' 2x4's to the launch site? Assuming on the roof rack? What if someone decides they like these while you are out on the water?
