The Kayak Trailer Project
I struggled to get the kayak up onto the roof of my high-profile SUV, injuring my shoulder and forearm, scratching the roof of the vehicle, and dropping the kayak once. I decided upon acquiring a used utility trailer, onto which I could just slide the vessel, eliminating the need to lift it above my waist. After a few hours over a period of about one week scanning Craigslist and other sites, I encountered a Harbor Freight (mostly cheap tools from China) ad for a small, new utility trailer, about $200.00. Bought it, put it together in about six hours, knowing that I would have to extend the tongue a considerable length to accomodate the kayak and the turning distance.
I went back to them in a few days to get the new, primed nine-foot aluminum tube. Within a few hours, it had a black gloss Rustoleum final coat. It attached easily since, of course, Karl The Smithey fabricated it perfectly, ensuring that all the mounting holes replicated the original exactly. So, now, transporting and launching my beautiful mango-colored vessel is much easier. However, I did struggle a bit with the $30.00 closed cell foam cradle in two seven-inch pieces I bought online -- they don't allow the kayak to slide over them well. Two days ago, I formulated a plan to station her more securely and easily onto the trailer.
I used fence post holders to install a couple of two-inch schedule 40 PVC pipes along the length of the polyurethaned plywood floor I had previously installed. I turned the kayak upside down on the ground and measured the distance between the scupper holes to make sure the kayak would rest balanced and centered. It is a 14-inch span, so I found the center line of the trailer floor and marked seven inches on both sides both of the centerline and positioned the pipes along those two lines running fore and aft of the trailer. I covered the fence post holders and pipes with six-inch wide sections of two welcome mats from Home Depot. Now, my beauty slides on and off the trailer and its cradle smoothly.
I may have completed the final modifications to the trailer and the kayak, but I would not bet on it. Well, my wife might want to get her own kayak next spring or summer. So, I'm thinking that I could attach a couple of posts to the trailer and get a J-mount holder, they come in two separate parts, and attach them to the posts. I would have to lift her kayak about chest high, but hers would be smaller and lighter and I anticipate a few more years of sufficient strength to manage that. After that, well she is younger, perhaps we could lift it together.