Milk Crate Hinges

Looking for any and all ideas that you guys have tried for hinges on milk crate lids.

1. Zip Ties

2. Bungee

1. Zip Ties

2. Bungee

'nuff said! That's pretty much how you can rig most stuff on ur yak. 

Looking for something a bit sturdier.   

What about some giant split rings or key rings?  There is enough of a lip on my milk crate that I could use a small piano hinge... good luck finding an affordable one in marine grade stainless though; maybe they make platice ones?

Looking for something a bit sturdier.   

What kind of animal do you plan to keep locked up in it?   

Just use 1/4" black bungee.  Tie one end of the bungee off at one edge of the inside of the crate.  Lace the bungee through both the crate and lid (assuming you are using a crate bottom for a lid).  Lace it all the way down, and back making a criss cross pattern for a hinge.  Tie the other end off inside to the lid.

Gaaruuntee nothing is getting out of that side.   



But if that isn't "sturdy" enough, you could use these. 

Yarr.  I'll be putting a downrigger on top of the lid.  Hopefully putting the monster together Wednesday or Thursday.  Several other modifications are gonna happen too.  Tarpon 160 2.0 time for me.

Bungees might be plausable to keep the lid shut on one side, but it's looking like ~4 thick Zip Ties for the hing unless I find something stainless that can get the job done.  Hinges would probably just be too much of a PITA.

Why not use the Scotty 253 gimbal mount in your flushmounts for your downrigger.  I'd be concerned about making your COG that high   

 

Get some BIG zip ties from the hardware store, these are 3'-4' in length. Usually used for HVAC applications, they are black and UV protected.
 Be sure to get black, as the other colors usually have no UV protection and only last a season if you are lucky.
 

If you do the criss cross pattern across the entire width of a milk crate with high quality 1/4" bungee, there is no fish under the boat that will pull the lid off that crate before it pulls your kayak over. 

Use a good rubber bungee for the other side to keep it closed. 

Done and Done!   

 Lee,  Didn't fastening your downrigger to a stool and strapping it down work?

not sure what you are using for the lid but  if it something like marine plywood  screw down to the plywood some triangle corners that fit inside the crate and will prevent it from slidding around as well. I am not explaining this well but think "cookie jar lid"

here is one guys idea using another crate and zip ties:
http://www.ultimatekayakfishing.com/forums/Diy-Rigging-New-Milk-Crate-t4062.html

http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/showthread.php?t=695864

Let me clear things up for you fellers a little bit:

1.  I gots no flush mounts, and I wouldn't trust a flush mount to put up with the stress

2.  Center of gravity isn't an issue. It would only be 2-4 inches higher than it already is, and it doesn't cause me any problems.  We're talking 6 pounds and I weight 210, as well as all the gear that's going to be in the BOTTOM of the crate and in the bottom of my hull.

3.  Those Big Black Zip Ties will probably end up being my choice for the 'hinges'   :-)

4.  I will use a good rubber bungee to keep it closed, but I'm not worried about a fish, the release clip will handle that ;-) Snags on the other hand, COULD cause a problem, which is the reason for 50lb braid instead of steel cable.

5.  Fastening it to the stool works very well; however, after using the current setup for a quite a while, and expanding my techniques, I need more storage space.  I can accomplish this with a milk crate setup and a removable downrigger on top of it 

6.  Won't need the triangle corners, milk crates are designed to stack already, and using the bottom of a 2nd milk crate makes a perfect lid.

AND, just to make sure, I'm not trying to be condescending or a jerk about anything, I know text doesn't carry voice inflection, and I appreciate everyones input. 

Also still open to any other ideas you folks might come up with.

How about paracord? I haven't done this myself.

You mean 550 cord?