DIY Kayak Gear Track Mount - ELEGANT and CHEAP! (Option 3)

Kayak gear track is very expensive. I show the third option for a DIY kayak gear track solution that will support DIY kayak accessories or commercial products. This DIY kayak rail mount comes ready to mount - all you have to do is cut it to fit.
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The Kayak Hacks Fishing channel covers kayak, wading, shoreline, spin, and fly fishing. It features gear mods to make kayak fishing more comfortable, efficient, and enjoyable. I share many tips, tricks, and "how to's" for both spin and fly fishing. These are useful regardless of whether you are fishing from a boat or on your feet. Please subscribe! Thanks!
Steve's CatchGuide series of fishing books are available on Amazon. They cover where to fish in Maryland and Virginia as well as tips for Fly Fishing. Just search for "Steve Moore Fishing."
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I do not have an affiliate or sponsorship relationship with Cadence Fishing or any other brand. I do have an affiliate relationship with Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Any product link to Amazon is an affiliate link. I appreciate your support in using those links since the small commission generated offsets the cost of the stuff I test for the channel. Thanks!
In short, you accept all risks of using any ideas presented in this video. Do not apply any suggestion if it will ruin the appearance, function, or structural integrity of your kayak.
Nothing in this video creates any expressed or implied warranty or guarantees a result. I shall not be held liable in any way or manner for errors, misleading, or incorrect information. If you find an error, please notify me right away using the contact form for the channel.
The bottom line is that you must make a judgment and not rely on the opinions expressed here.

[@terristroh3965]

Without even trying you answered both a kayak mod and a woodworking question. I love this channel !

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks! Appreciate it! Always good to do double duty!

[@gregmiller1844]

Thanks, I have been using the T track for several years, it saves alot of money. I always enjoy your hacks and have used several of them. I may have to make one of the horizontal rod holders like in this video.

[@alishawatson5689]

My fishing kayak had a badly dented gear track due to shipping damage. Rather than sending it back, I used this DIY to replace it and saved tons of money. The color even matches my kayak. Thanks for this tip and all the helpful info on your channel!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I really appreciate that! I'll work even harder!

[@Rochesterhome]

Today was my maiden trip on my first kayak. Your videos made setting it up simple and inexpensive. I took it to a pond close by to work out any rookie bugs. I've been fishing for years but today I looked like a fishing rookie on the water. I mounted my fish finder on the side my paddle is secured too and chose the fish finder over the paddle. I had make sure it didn't fall in all day. I hooked a lure on the line of the front anchor pulley and couldn't reach it. I had to cut it off and tie on another popper. I retrieved it when I docked. Within 20 minutes my kayak looked like a wind storm hit it with stuff lying all over the place. But you know what...It was a beautiful day and I caught a couple of fish. Tomorrow, I'm heading to the Ore Beds. I fished there from shore and public dock for years. Tomorrow, I'm going to drift all day casting lures toward shore like I've dreamt of for years. I don't know what took me so long! Thank you for sharing your experiences to cut down on my mistakes.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

lol! It takes a few trips to start sorting things out. What looks fine in the yard may not work in action!

[@Road.Tripping]

A masterful series of options! I love this one the best and will sure see if I can find some T-trac. Love your work and thanks for doing the hard yards for us all!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks! Appreciate it!

[@dmax2023]

This is great!! I just got mine ordered.

[@michaelkim4251]

Sounds good, I'll save the money.Thanks for the great idea!

[@letun3481]

Great tips! thank you!

[@KennyFishbone]

Great idea to who ever shared it. Before I found your channel, found some grey anodized aluminum track on Amazon. I made some T bolt bases out of brass or bronze flat stock. But brass toilet bowl bolts work too. Stainless is best. These tracks are better than the plastic tracks and cost effective for our applications. I have tracks on my kayak, fishing jetski and my jon boat. I can move various accessories like tool holders. Gaff holders, net holders, cup holders etc. For my salt water boat I doubled the tracks. A 40lb tuna fights like a pitbull!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks for the tip on Amazon. I just looked it up and track is a real bargain there!

[@jackda100]

This idea came along just in time. I was looking for a way to SOLIDLY & SECURELY mount a set of outriggers to my two new yaks. I will mount these to hard cutting board and then screw down and marine glue the cutting board to the floor of the yak. Then create my end caps as instructed in option 1 as I continue upwards with the post and outrigger arms. This with a few other reenforcement features should make it permanent and solid, which is often not seen with DIY outriggers..... or for that matter, most of the store bought ones. Thank you, Sir, and thanks to those who shared it with you.. This solved a major problem for me.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Let me know if the marine glue works. It is hard to find glue that will adhere to the HDPE kayaks are made of.

[@nicholasdeluca3580]

Fabulous as always. TY

[@wine.seeker]

Ready to see what you come up with on this great track alternative!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I have a big build coming up...

[@mikehutton8623]

You SIR just made my day. I have some of that in my garage. This was an awesome video. Thank you for sharing

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@robertuffman3041]

this is going to work great for my canoe. ty.

[@Apstar622]

Awesome idea 👍🏻

[@SADER21]

Cool ! Thanks!

[@p3purr]

Love it! Used this idea for my gear track and it worked great. Bought Tee track at Northern tool. Don’t remember what I paid but right now it $20 for 3 ft. Amazon has several choices including 2 36” tracks for $23

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Sounds great!

[@richkucharski8824]

Great info..thanks

[@peterlenhardt235]

This is a winner. Keep up the good work!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks, will do!

[@hancelsmith431]

Thank you for the video. Make me save a lot money.

[@huntryx1]

Good job!

[@Legallyblindoutdoors]

I like this hack thanks for sharing. I love the cadence reel I won on here thank you.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Catch a bunch of fish with it!

[@retnav92]

Good info 👍

[@araldf]

Awesome idea!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks!

[@wglwt]

Use 3M VHB 4910 Heavy Duty Mounting Tape - 0.75 in on the bottom of each t-track then place it where you want t-track. Next use # 7 tapered head stainless steel sheet metal screws in each t-track hole. The tape will take a lot of the stress off the screws helping to keep them from pulling out. This has worked well on my Pelican Bass Raider 10e.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Excellent idea! Thanks

[@crawford323]

Outstanding

[@ricardosworkshop]

This is great! Thanks for sharing.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Here is a link to the track - amzn.to/3lMa8O5

[@enriquecastillocarvallo219]

Really great tanks

[@Beyondthebackyard-au]

This is gold, just saved me a ton of money

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks! Appreciate it!

[@briangascoigne3460]

great hack!!!!!

[@pmm422]

As I mentioned on your other video, I use 1/4-20 carriage bolts, Typically I need to file the side just a little and they slide right into the T-Track. Cheap easy to find.

[@pmm422]

OK after using the carriage bolts for 3 or 4 months I am finding that under load they don't hold up all that well. The heads seem to be really soft metal they don't hold up to flexing very well. I've had 2 break on me one of them was holding on my down rigger, luckily I happened to be holding onto it otherwise it would be sitting at the bottom of the lake. I ordered some of the toilet bowl bolts so I'm hopeful those turn out to be stronger, thanks again for the great content.

[@elpescadormiggz]

@@pmm422 how are those toilet bowl bolts holding up?

[@pmm422]

@@elpescadormiggz Well I don't do salt water "yet" so not exactly the acid test but I've had no problems with them. Most of my gear I have switched to "T-Track bolts" lots of options on amazon... www.amazon.com/POWERTEC-71121-Piece-T-Bolt-Kit/dp/B079JN1DSK/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=T-Track+bolts&qid=1625846915&sr=8-2

[@Arecibo33]

You can use rivets to mount that if you use a bushing with the same inside diameter as the rivet shaft. The bushing acts as a stand off and allows you to use rivets in tighter places. Steel bushing is preferrred since aluminum is sometimes prone to mushrooming but either works fine.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks for the tip!

[@DirtDigglerDetecting]

God Bless You for Putting this Together. THANK YOU> :)

[@KayakhacksFishing]

You're very welcome

[@echo1er]

nice. I just 3d printed two tracks with glow in the dark filliment. For early and late fishing. I haven't installed it yet.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Nice work!

[@luiscastro452]

Thanks

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Welcome

[@akorahmaniazar]

I sell window coverings and use curtain tracks. Do great job and come so slim and low profile. I sell the thick aluminum ones for $35 Canadian per linear meter.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks for the tips!

[@longBowHunterII]

I look for accesories on amazon, walmart and on and every thing for a kayak is so darn expensive. seriously people have to quit buy that stuff and make there own, and maybe they will get message they are over charging for cheap made plastic products. yes I totally agree with all the other posters. very nice videos, and are very help full.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I really appreciate that! I'll work even harder!

[@dalec.1907]

Good, better, best. Took 3 videos, but you got there. Couldn't find T track at Lowe's. Least I know what to do. Thanks.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Lol! I had to order it from Home Depot for store delivery. I also just put a link to Amazon in the description, but the shipping is not free and takes a long time.

[@dalec.1907]

Second question, I'm a retired Machinist. Bought my first kayak. How do screws hold anything in plastic? Without tearing out No one covers this.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

@@dalec.1907 You are a few days ahead of me. My video for Feb 19 discusses well nuts. Those and rivets are the best things to use. On Feb 23 I compare well nuts to rivets. For this track, well nuts are the best thing to use.

[@davidwolf7351]

One has to wonder what version 4 will be or are we maxed out on this awesome idea? Thanks to the Aussies for getting you on a roll.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I think this is it!

[@mikeboston421]

tee track and tee bolts at Leevalley tools as well

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks!

[@poppajof4]

hi do you put a backing plate under this inside the hull for extra support to avoid torquing that the rod holders could cause?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

You could. It would be easier to just use multiple well nuts since track gets mounted in awkward places that are impossible to reach from inside the kayak.

[@Walt1119]

Ur making the mounting of that track too hard, I had the exact same blue tracks(ordered on Amazon) on my kayak, used only the screw holes in it, used the flat head screws in a size that fit the track in a sheet metal screw, with a bit of silicone worked fine, just don’t over tighten, never came loose mounted all kinds of accessories on it, sold that yak 4 years later and the guy is still using it! Great vids, thanks for sharing

[@KayakhacksFishing]

True... it all depends on the stress you are going to put on the track.

[@slothparade4184]

Thanks. An assesory track in Australia is about $30 for a part then another $40 just for 1 rod holder

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I know... others have told me it is hard to find T Track there

[@slothparade4184]

@@KayakhacksFishing yeah our main hardware store doesn't sell them have to get them off ebay or amazon

[@KayakhacksFishing]

@@slothparade4184 I wish I could find it. Somebody from Australia commented on a video in this series about where they found it locally.

[@slothparade4184]

@@KayakhacksFishing damn, might be hardware and general, thanks, ill have a look. I guess I could weld something together from an old washing mechine, thats another way of getting a track for free

[@jimking2299]

I don't enjoy the flex of the somewhat flimsy plastic Yak Tracks on my boat, especially when I troll for large fish. I want metal, and this looks good. So thanks.

[@joeyruehrwein5756]

Do you/anyone have thoughts on rubber end caps for these or other ways to dull the ends?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I would just gently file off any burrs. You could always put a light coat of glue over the ends to smooth it further.

[@hcshooter]

Would some type of epoxy work to mount the track? I don't need it to support a ton of weight. ideas?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Sadly, the material kayaks are made from will not accept most adhesives. You really need to screw to attach.

[@keithlapere7650]

Not into the track mounts yet. Eventually I will like to add and love diy's if I can get away with saving some dollars. Stupid question? My heads not on right at the moment because I'm awfully sick and bed ridden. Is this for factory mount accessories too? Thx in adavnce.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I have had a bad cold for the last two weeks! Understand. The track will hold factory accessories. There is no real difference between it and branded kayak utility track.

[@vladmirputin7139]

I have an Evoke kayak with plastic gear tracks. I'm trying to find an aluminum track that is a drop in replacement and will accept the standard t bolts that come on gear. No luck so far. I really don't feel like messing around with a track that won't fit the standard kayak track.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Can you use a hacksaw to trim one of these to fit?

[@barneyewing2664]

Rust is going to be an issue with the zinc plated screws. I'd use stainless. Also, are the t-nuts zinc plated or are they stainless?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

the ones I got from home depot are zinc plated. But... they are so inexpensive, I can replace them when they get bad.

[@ScruffyCityFishing]

Doing the lords work. It’s robbery what gear tracks cost.

[@helicopterjohns]

Hi good idea. The only thing I would change is the flat head mounting screws should be stainless steel to prevent rust. John

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Yes!

[@timgile8144]

Use toilet bolts. They are 1/4-20 and brass. Cut to the length you want.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Yes, those work as well. I went ahead and bought a pack of T bolts since I use them for other things.

[@xmatador9996]

Great idea! Has anyone painted the T-tracks? I'd like to paint mine black, but I'm afraid that the paint is going to rub off on the inside of the tracks where the adapters touch. Has anyone experienced this?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

If you only want to paint the outside, cut a thin strip of pool noodle or pipe wrap and stuff it in the gap to prevent the spray from getting inside.

[@xmatador9996]

@@KayakhacksFishing Interesting... do you think painting the inside would prevent the adapters from fitting in?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

@@xmatador9996 It might. Most T Track is aluminum and will not rust. You could check the fit first and see if there is extra room. My big concern would be the paint producing friction that would make it harder to move the attachments.

[@marvinbanjo]

Hey I asked about that stuff in a previous video and was told it wouldn't work so I gave up on the idea . You can order that stuff all day from Rockler woodworking supply and a bunch of others too. I got a link to a kayak supply store on Amazon I think and got disinterested because the prices were so high I was getting noise bleeds . I had a cabinet shop and a architectural millwork shop and we were always using that stuff to anchor stuff that needed to be adjustable. It comes in different sizes too. The only thing you'd need is those funny nuts for mounting the track that somehow go onto the bottom . I wonder if riv-nuts would work.or some kind of drywall anchor .I'd still like to try those funny nuts though, just to see where else I could use them . I really like the way you use pvc pipe creatively .I did that a lot on my sea skiff too

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I have videos coming up on well nuts and rivets.

[@racerx12003r]

I tried this same thing on mine and did like it. Picked it up off Amazon for about the same price. The only thing I didn't like about it was it didn't seem too stable. Wanted to wobble around even after tightening up the screws as tight as I could get them. I was trying to come up with a way to widen out the base to give more surface area. Thought about adding a piece of plate aluminum below the t track and screwing the whole thing down to my boat. Any thoughts about that?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Did you try using well nuts? I think they would do better than screws.

[@racerx12003r]

@@KayakhacksFishing yes sir. Even after tightening them up as tight as I could get them, it still seemed to flex a lot for some reason. I used well nuts I purchased from Home Depot. I know it's gonna add some cost to it, but I had considered welding the flat material to the T track. I have access to a spool gun at work we use to weld aluminum on trailers. What brand of well nuts do you like??

[@KayakhacksFishing]

@@racerx12003r I wonder if your well nuts were too short to grab. Since you already have a hole, it won't hurt to try one that is 3/4 or 1". That would result in a bigger spread on the inside. You can get the longer ones from Amazon. I could not find them in Lowes or Home Depot

[@racerx12003r]

@@KayakhacksFishing I'll give that a shot before I try the wider base. Thanks for all the hacks you share.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

@@racerx12003r Let me know how it works out. Another thing to check is that the track/accessory is totally flat against the boat where you mount it. A curve will disrupt the hold. If that's the case, maybe put some washers between the track and the surface to level it out.

[@chetyoder]

www.rockler.com has lots of products like this, I use them for building router tables and the like

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Yep. Good site. However, the T Track was cheaper at Home Depot

[@philod902]

Woodcraft stocks it in their stores at the Depot price. Rockler is about 50% more

[@KayakhacksFishing]

@@philod902 Perfect! Thanks

[@webgary5599]

This is great! I was trying to think of a more stable camera rig mount for behind my seat. What are you thoughts on Unistrut mounted side to side with forward and aft supports about six inches long on the sides? Aluminum unistrut is available, but is expensive. So I would probably use galvanized.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

As long as the mount is solid, it should be OK. I assume you want the track to extend beyond the edge of the kayak - so be careful you do not walk into it when loading or unloading.

[@johnrussell3507]

What size screw are you using? I can't read it on the video.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

You can use either 1/4 or 5/16. Both will fit on the track.

[@johnrussell3507]

@@KayakhacksFishing I meant the screws to attach the track to the kayak.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

@@johnrussell3507 I used well nuts. I think they were size 10, I got flathead screws with the same thread pitch (I think 32) and used those.

[@coachman290651]

hi ho t track can be bought off ebay bob frm oz

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thanks!

[@yakleyulrich3048]

T-bolts are just lavatory mount bolts

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Yes. I found that just buying a pack was cheaper than buying the mount bolts if you are going to use more than 2.

[@travisvanorman7331]

Check out Rockler.com it's a woodworkers dream and plenty of neat items to create DIY stuff.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Yep. Good site. However, the T Track was cheaper at Home Depot