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 -
https://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.
https://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 - https://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.