DIY Kayak Boat Canoe Loader No LIFTING!

A DIY kayak loader that uses a winch instead of your back to car top your boat! Easy one-person loading with simple PVC and winch solution for heavy boats or for those with back or shoulder issues. I have standard Yakima areostyle crossbars and basic round sidebars that you can find from any roof rack supplier but this would work for any shape bar as long as you have access to the end of the bar. As for the parts for the build...why spend over $600 when you can do it for under $50? All you need is a couple 1-1/2" PVC pipes, a small wooden board, small winch and tow rope, a few stainless steel bolts, small pulley, and a carabiner. Use your existing tie-down straps as the bridle and you're able to easily car-top your kayak in just minutes.
For those looking to build a similar system, here are a few close-up photos that may help -
www.starpathimages.com/SPI-Ar...
I just used the Yakima Skyline Towers, the 60" steel areostyle crossbars, and repurposed the sidebar rails from an old Yakima Showboat system. But you can find generic sidebars/bar clamps online, just look for ones with low profile clamps. If you don't have any side rails, that is probably the crux of acquiring the hardware for the build.
I bought mine from RackWarehouse but I know Amazon and other retailers carry them.
www.rackwarehouse.com/yakima-...
Yakima Skyline Towers (4 pack), part number - y0148
Yakima Landing Pad 13, 4 Pack - y0239
Yakima CoreBar M 60" Bars - y0422
Here is a pic of the sidebar rails and clamps - www.starpathimages.com/SPI-Ar...
The white part is just some PVC pipe I slipped over the rail before I clamped it down to act as a roller. It's not really needed but I think it helps a bit.

[@404-Err0r]

Of all the diy solutions I've watched, this takes the crown by 100 miles... exactly what I need to load a 41kg kayak on my suv. Thank you so much for sharing mate!!

[@stigcc]

There is a much easier solution, search for boat on the roof kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqWcZmOshrWSd6s

[@waynef8856]

This is GENIUS!!! And it's exactly what I've been looking for to load my 17 foot Grumman aluminum canoe onto my minivan! Thanks for posting this!

[@AlanHowellphotovideo]

My pleasure...it really works great!

[@VincenzaV1]

That is the BEST kayak top loading system I have ever seen! Thank you for the tip....

[@laurielyon7740]

Very slick! Good video and well presented. Great job. It would be difficult if not impossible to explain why there are those who would offer a thumbs down. It’s creative, cost effective, clever and simple. In fact far more clever but certainly not as simple as the ‘thumbs-down’ folks. And that may be the explanation.

[@kksinn1165]

Great idea. This is the best method I found after days of search on the web. 👍👍👍

[@aderiley6592]

Brilliant. It's often the simple solutions that work the best. Thanks very much for sharing your idea. 💙🤙👍

[@tomwilkinson2883]

Exactly what I need my yak is 48kgs and I've got a stuffed back I might upgrade the PVC pipe but fantastic idea thx for posting this mate unreal 👌👌👌👌👌🛶🛶🛶🛶🛶

[@jimjackson1788]

This is the best I’ve seen! Really no lifting. Congratulations and thank you.

[@branonpsu]

Dude you rock! I am 47 and back is still good, and I want to keep it that way 😉Thanks

[@AlanHowellphotovideo]

It's definitely helped me stay on the water longer. 🙂

[@johnnypea43]

Dude! This is great! A lifelong paddler, I haven't had too much of a problem loading and unloading kayaks or canoes until recently when got a pedal kayak which is just too heavy and cumbersome to realistically (safely) get up there on a regular basis. I have the same outback too and essentially the same Aerobars, so I am going to look into making one of these. Thanks!

[@sameerh.mohamed7913]

Doing mine after watching your video.Already bought the winch nuts wood board etc ..thanx a loads

[@papabeoms]

Hello. I live in Korea. I tried diy because it was too expensive, but it's not easy because I don't have any experience. I've been looking everywhere for information, and I've found this great information. Thank you. Also, thank you for sharing the detailed information. It's very helpful.

[@SuperChriscunningham]

I tried your idea without winching . Once the kayak is between both pvcs it’s easy to slide it all the way onto the racks.. I just acquired a 18 Necky fiberglass kayak and it easily slid to the roof rack

[@wordzenpix]

Brilliant, can't beat minimalist engineering.

[@anthonybates9928]

I have been looking for a cheap easy system to mount my kayak. This is just perfect. Simple easy too make and use. Many thanks from my back.

[@AlanHowellphotovideo]

That's what it's all about! Thanks for watching! :-)

[@robertchadwick1552]

Excellent Job on that DIY. Thanks for sharing this.

[@daverage4811]

Great idea! I’ve got a bad back but just took up kayaking and the worst part for me is the unload and load. PVC and a heat gun brilliant!

[@Randy-ul5hy]

Fantastic idea... I am 62 years old with back and shoulder problems and was just looking at ways to get my 12 foot Sportspal canoe onto my roof rack by myself. I actually thought of the same DIY set up but without the winch as I do not think I will need it. The rails should allow me to just slide the canoe up and onto the roof rack without any back lifting involved...same thing in reverse to take it off. I was thinking ABS for the rails however I like the idea of your PVC better as it can more easily be heated to mold the ends to securely attach the the roof rack ends. Bravo! and enjoy the $ 600.00 saved!!!

[@hectoralers84]

Genius contraption!

[@nelsonwalker7105]

well done i liked the narration instead of talking outdoors with wind noise while you are actually doing the operation.

[@norwegianminiranch]

Nice! I've been thinking about something for getting my canoe on the top of my car. I'll definitely be makin one like this. Thank you so much for posting the video!

[@andyespenan5919]

Thank you for posting!

[@deescott7301]

Great idea and very clear instructions! I was thinking about buying a lighter kayak so you probably just saved me over $900.

[@Mike-co9te]

Great idea! Thank you for sharing.

[@Vylkeer]

Great ingenuity, congrats.

[@taytus]

I love this! I will try to recreate it. Thank you!!

[@steveslinn3417]

Wonderful solution! Thank you for sharing

[@urbantone]

Excellet idea many thanks from Luleå north of Sweden

[@bobjohnson6371]

Great idea, thanks for posting the video. Gonna get to work on mine, to get a couple hobies on top of my jeep.

[@darylwchan]

Great design! Thanks for sharing.

[@bbyghostie]

This is genius, thank you for sharing!! I am planning on getting a 76 lb kayak and really don't want to spend the hundreds on a fancy load assist system. This will help a lot when I go on solo trips!!

[@AlanHowellphotovideo]

That's great to hear! Be sure to check out the link to the additional photos in the video description. They may help give some ideas on how to mount the winch and run the tow rope :-)

[@r.h.u.2387]

Simple y práctico, es excelente!! Muy buena idea!! Gracias!!

[@louisetremblay5603]

I really want to get a paddle powered kayak this year. I'm waiting for shoulder replacement surgery, and this will be perfect. Thank you !

[@peterlenhardt235]

That was awesome. Great idea!

[@JP-ic2ze]

absolutely love it, great job

[@BRAVEONPRECIOUS]

Brilliant! Thank you so much!😊

[@dgmenace73]

Way to go!!! Thanks for this video!

[@abc123music4me]

great idea! Thanks for sharing!!

[@Blue-Kayak]

I've seen several ideas for loading kayaks, and this seems the best. I've made a few PVC archery bows with heat guns, and it really is an easy way to mold PVC pipes to any desired shape. I think a 1" X 2" board fits inside a 2" PVC pipe, which would give the pipes some extra strength.

[@serafinflorendo3893]

Thank you for the solution & idea.

[@hetzlerm1]

Thank you. This is awesome

[@cathyhirzel3751]

Brilliant. Thanks for sharing!

[@steveknight2682]

brilliant & I'm going to try it myself.

[@_MHICKO_]

So glad I came across your video. 👍💯

[@rapidsplash9339]

Love the video-- extremely user pleasant and lots to see!

[@tjsouthard870]

You're a Wizard!

[@bryamartel4687]

Brilliant idea.

[@zullzull9163]

Good idea... Thx for sharing mate😎

[@fern9234]

Nice idea. In going to try something similar. Btw you may want to tie down the front nose of the kayak so it doesn't catch wind and want to pull up. I've seen a kayak tear the rack off a car before. thanks for taking the time to post this video

[@lakiraly]

Great idea, thanks for posting :-)

[@johnlafleur7480]

Man that is slick!!!

[@edwin6709]

This is so awesome thank you

[@Avacarho]

Awesome idea. Your manual winch reminds of one for pulling a boat onto a trailer.

[@BleedingHeartBellydance]

Fabulous. Thanks!

[@andrewheyl2209]

You are BRILLIANT! WWMD

[@peteracke2209]

very well done...well videod and great idea

[@larryborshard7824]

Brilliant, Alan! I hope that sends a message to Thule and their $900 msrp Hullavators, which, BTW, is not one size fits all. Its advantages depend greatly on roof rack/vehicle height, kayak dimensions, user height and strength, and possibly knee condition. Love your can-do result! Would love to see a close-up of the PVC ends and how they hook into your rack. Thanks again!

[@drn2183]

Awesome! Thanks!!

[@stevegass7698]

Well done!

[@scottwegler7546]

Perfect - I have a lifted Jeep Wrangler, and at 44 hoisting my tandem kayak (85lbs) is a nightmare. This is a great solution.

[@m.g.2926]

I have a Jeep too. I'd love to see what setup you design if you can share a video somehow. :)

[@jrgenfriborg3508]

Very nice job, Well don.

[@terribleatfishing]

Awesome, Thanks!

[@hughprice1533]

Thank you very much for this. I have just finished making my rig and indeed it does work. There is a lot of load on the winch board so that has to be well secured and you need to ensure the design doesnt mean the winch handle fouls the roof rack. The securing point on the kayak is also important, especially at the bend at the top of the pipe, but the end result is having a back that still works for a change. The plastic pipes amazingly are fine with the strain and it is so easy to rig and de-rig. Great idea!

[@AlanHowellphotovideo]

That's awesome! Well done Hugh! I found the build fun to create and it sure does help my back in the long run. Takes a litle longer to load and unload but it's well worth saving the back and shoulders. I've also found at public launches people are curious about it and willing to help which saves me even more time lol.

[@hughprice1533]

@@AlanHowellphotovideo I have been skirting round this idea but was thinking always of needing to use wood so your idea of pipe was the clincher. I used 40mm waste pipe and solvent welded a 135 degree bend and then a short bit of pipe to fit into the roof bars. I have friend who has been struggling loading his canoe and he is going to love this too. Being an engineer (or was anyway) I am still thinking up refinements so this will keep me amused for sometime yet. Thanks again and thanks for sharing.

[@AlanHowellphotovideo]

@@hughprice1533 , That's great news and would be interested in any refinements you come up with. I had looked at securing the winch board with U bolts and painting it white to match the car but paddling season came about sooner than expected lol. After sticking with the bit of tow rope to secure the winch board I realized it actually kept from scratching up the crossbars and was still pretty easy to take off and on. However, I just leave it on the roof rack most of the time now since I paddle fairly often.

[@hughprice1533]

@@AlanHowellphotovideo Yep been there with the u bolts and like you gave it up. I noticed your lashing and decided if it worked for you it would certainly work for me. Being aged as well and as our paddling season has started here in the UK I set off for the first paddle and ricked my back. It was either find a different way of loading cheaply (paying money for these things hurts my finer feelings) or give up paddling. Thanks to you I have got the right option. The only real issue is the small section when the kayak comes off the tube and rotates onto the bars and I think the lead is all importnat there. I am using a sling at present so will experiment again tomorrow. The monsoon returns here for wednesday onwards but we need it. I will keep you posted!

[@benjamingrant4065]

This is impressive

[@ivekuukkeli2156]

Nice done. If you use a snatchblock at the cajac end and attach the free end to the winch side bar, you need 1/2 force but double revolutions.

[@farnorthpicker56]

Excellent job! Saved yourself a pile of $$$$. I have a Wilderness Systems Ride 135. It’s bad enough loading it on our suv, but it’s an absolute beast to put on top of our f150 ! We looked at Thule Hullivators but the price is ridiculous! I may make a system like this. Thank you for taking the time and effort for sharing.

[@AlanHowellphotovideo]

All of these roof rack prices are way out of hand. That is for sure. Thanks for watching!

[@tammihasenpflug726]

Brilliant!!!

[@rockfishmiller]

Well done.

[@roadie50]

Thank you for this

[@dewdog]

Thanks...I though I would be stuck with getting a under 50 lb kayak. I can now go bigger.

[@surfsot3305]

Doing this tommorow! I live in Orange Beach AL. Low crime rate except when it comes to marine equipment and trailers. Professional thieves with bolt cutters would have my trailer 1st camping trip! Just got a 15' Trident and getting it on my Tahoe is impossible solo. This is my solution! Thanks man!!

[@AlanHowellphotovideo]

Congrats on the new boat! That's a beast for sure by yourself. I may put together a short clip of the winch board as several people have asked for some specifics. It's pretty easy to figure out but making sure the tow rope is centered over the roof rack and to the center of gravity of the kayak is really the main part to work out. I also use some rubberized straps to hold the PVC rails to the roof rack as well if I'm traveling with a partner or a ton of gear. They need to be snugged down pretty good since the PVC is slick. Good luck on the build and thanks for the comment!

[@surfsot3305]

It's midnight and I'm still out measuring out things. So fired up about this idea! I'll let you know about any modifications and look forward to yours. Thanks again!

[@gustavolara8376]

Thank you very much, you are an ingenious creative, thank you, my canoe weighs 79 pounds, but for the pvc to have more rigidity, cut a 2x4, and round the corners so that it could enter, with the help of a hammer, they are very good Thank you, it was very difficult to get it on the mini vans Dodge Grand Caravan, be sure to be creative and share it

[@donboggs3880]

I like your adaptation! Great solution. I'll may be trying to work out a canoe on top of a shuttle bus. Of course the 9'8" height is problematic. Maybe somehow a side mounted roof ladder as tracks and some type of aluminum trolley? Anyway, thanks for your share.

[@amazegh2000]

a million dollar idea

[@williamiwaniuk5561]

Very good!

[@stevelongacre5829]

Thanks...good idea.

[@dellam04]

Brilliant idea... I love it! Oh BTW... I have an Outback just like that and same color too... LOL!

[@stepheneurosailor1623]

Brilliant,

[@ronbelote]

Badass !

[@ponymoore6140]

Genius! Well done that man. Would love to see more details on the winch system; another video maybe?

[@AlanHowellphotovideo]

Here are a few close-up photos that may help. Granted the measurements will need to be adjusted to each vehicle but this is the basic design - www.starpathimages.com/SPI-Ar...

[@monicapopescu57]

Thats cool 🙌👍👍

[@TheKimbin1985]

great idea. well done. Im 5'4 and have a campervan and was wondering how id go about loading and unloading a kayak to the roof racks. i have seen these motorised ones before but not with the boat hand crank

[@FishYourHeartOut]

Wondering why more people AREN'T doing this? I just bought a old town sportsmen 120 PDL and I top it on my jeep patriot but it's getting old lifting it! A trailer just isn't in the works at the moment..I'll have to play around with some ideas like this for my kayak.

[@JM-dh8jp]

Fantastic

[@dickpelzer3588]

Good idea

[@woodsie7222]

Awesome

[@danieleealessandra]

Wow Alan!!! That's an amazing video. Thanks for sharing! That would make loading and unloading the reload so much EASIER!! THANKS MATE

[@traciewarren915]

really great idea mate best I have seen for a long time tidy job also got a pro reload magic boats

[@trekkintexan5160]

Brilliant

[@mattmurphysfagent]

Brilliant Alan! Been looking for an idea for mounting on top of my RV and the boat winch idea could be just the ticket. Thanks for sharing. (Fellow North Stater here btw....)

[@jimquantic]

That's pretty ingenius. And I appreciate it. For me, with a bad back, but not too bad, I use something a little simpler. 1. Back Subaru to the canoe. 2. Flipe the canoe upside down. 3. Pick up one end of he canoe, not the entire canoe---and sit that one end onto the racks. 4. Go to the back of the canoe, pick up THAT end and slide it on. I never lift the entire canoe, just one end at a time. But your concept and execution is the bomb, I admit.

[@johnnypea43]

I've used a similar technique for large canoes, but a flat canoe upside down is easier to manage than the slippery round kayak hull, just ask my side-view mirror.😕

[@briangascoigne3460]

looks great - i'm not getting any younger and my kayak weighs 64 LBs it's getting hard for me to wrestle it around TY

[@Cad1900]

Awesome idea and video thank you. I made a similar contraption out of pvc but with no winch. I made two verticals similar to yours only I added a perpendicular piece to each vertical about waist high that sticks out 15”. I find it pretty easy to lift the boat waist high to the perpendicular’s and sit it there. Now I can lift with my legs and push the kayak onto my roof racks pretty easily. I use Yakima kayak holders. I use a marine grade bungee loop drilled through the top of each vertical to secure them to the Yakima holders.

[@susanbrogno2553]

do you have pics or a video?

[@Cad1900]

@@susanbrogno2553 sorry I do not. Mine looks like an “H” looking at the side of the car. I used pvc T’s on the vertical pvc legs to connect the horizontal bar of the “H”. I did not glue the horizontal bar so it can be easily taken apart. The vertical legs of the “H” are spaced to match the roof rack bar Center to Center dimension. Right below the horizontal “H” bar I added another pvc T in the vertical leg with a 12” pvc glued into it. This 15” part sticks out and creates the place on each leg where you sit the kayak. All the legs are 1 1/2” pvc. I drilled hole’s through the top of each vertical leg and added marine grade bungee and that loops over my roof rack bars to hold the whole thing steady while loading the kayak. After winter is over I may get everything out and make a short video. This thing comes apart easily and fits in the back of the car for transport. It’s sturdy my kayak weights 56lbs and 14’-6” long and it’s pretty easy for me to load. I cannot load it without this loader.

[@Randy-ul5hy]

@@Cad1900 Yup...this is exactly what I am going to make as I dont need the winch...just a way to roof load without using my back to pick up the canoe..Thanks!!!

[@Cad1900]

@@Randy-ul5hy Great! LMN how it works for you.

[@Randy-ul5hy]

@@Cad1900 So how do you get the angle at the top were the PVC joins the existing roof rack? What I refer to is once the 2 PVC side rails slide onto the 2 butt ends of of the roof rack, it needs to then be angled down on a 45 degree or so to meet the ground. I cant see from his video how he made that bend. He said he used a heat gun, but I think that was just to flatten the pipe a pit. How do you get the bend/curve? Thanks!

[@CaptVideo]

Appreciated.

[@jimmysqueezyronin5623]

Genius🥇🏆

[@thomasnewbery7449]

I'm a septuagenarian and just bought a 16' "scanoe". Unfortunately, I have to get it up onto a B2500 Dodge truck with a contractor's rack. This appears to be the best solution short of motorizing the winch!

[@35ABSTRACT]

Love it

[@pa_maj.MARTINI-van-MAN]

It's any kind of High stretching kills my back for many days, OK at the time but later 😥 Good job, something to consider 👍

[@damkayaker]

Subscribed for a great DIY idea! Before this season I had no problem loading/unloading a 13'6" Ocean Kayak Trident overhead using center grab handles, up 2 steps of step ladder, on to a full size van with Yakima rack. My current dilemma is this. Around the New Year I got a mild case of shingles from left scapula under arm to left chest which cleared up in about a month. Didn't go for an anti viral Rx and got post complications (nerve damage) left arm was dominate (high side for loading on passenger side) Strength is coming back but this idea might be it for my sit-on-tops. That's a nice kayak you have. What brand is that?

[@evelyndorman5301]

Nice! Unfortunately I have the Jlow racks on my Suburu Forester.

[@lihandballlihandball4663]

Gracias