Need to hang your kayak up so you're not stumbling over it on the garage floor or on the back porch? You can make a homemade kayak hanger in several simple ways that are inexpensive, sturdy and easy to load and unload. Whether in the garage, in the boat house or on the back porch, you can create a simple, attractive hanger for your kayak in less than an hour in most cases.
Noodle Hanger
One of the simplest hanger strategies is to screw four hooks into the ceiling in pairs about half the length of the hull apart. Purchase two 8-foot lengths of swingset chain and thread them through a standard length foam swim noodle. You can find these at department stores in the swimming pool section every summer. Buy the ones that are hollow in the center. The hole is usually large enough to simply drop one end of the chain into the hole at one end and let it thread through. Attach the chain to one hook, loop the foam-covered chain under your kayak and hook the other end of the chain to the other hook. Do the same with the other pair of hooks. Adjust the height of the kayak by simply unhooking and shortening the chain. You can do the same thing with rope and cord.
Strap Hanger
You can make a strap hanger easily with a length of used fire hose that you can buy from volunteer fire stations. Cut two hoses into 6- to 8-foot lengths depending on how low you want the kayak to hang. Better too long than too short--you can always cut off the excess. Fold one end of the hose and screw it into the ceiling with a large screw and washer. Be sure you screw into a wooden joist for strength. Get someone to help you and test-wrap under the hull of your kayak and pull it up to the ceiling till the kayak is at the height you want. Cut off the excess hose. Get a metal grommet kit, drill a hole in the end of the hose and install the grommet. Attach a big hook that will fit through the grommet to the ceiling. Now simply run the strap under the hull of the kayak and slip the grommet over the hook and the kayak is suspended.
U-Bracket
Shelving and hardware stores sell specialized, very large U hooks. You can attach these to the ceiling, a pair of support posts or a wall. Make sure they are about half the kayak's hull length apart. Slip a hollow-core foam fun noodle over the hook and set the ends of the kayak into the U part of the bracket.
Tags: your kayak, 8-foot lengths, about half, back porch, into ceiling, over hook, screw into