Golf pull cart becomes kayak cart

After seeing the prices of kayak carts, I decided to try making one with parts already lying around the house.  I started with a golf pull cart that I found a while back on Craigslist for $10, stripped off the golf bag holder, and then turned to my old friend, PVC.  Using 1-1/4" pipe and some 'T' fittings, I inserted the central shaft of the cart through the pipe and out fitted rectangular openings I cut through the fittings at each end.  A few bolts through the pipe and cart shaft prevent slippage and twisting.

Next, I cut pipe lengths to fit into the arms of the T-fitting, with elbows to form two kayak supports and a length of foam cushion on each support.  The ends of the supports slip into the T fittings and secure with quick release fasteners, and each arm can be removed for stowage in the kayak when I'm underway.  The width of the support arms matches the grooves in the bottom of the kayak, but if I want to use the cart with another yak, I just take off the support arms and put on a different set configured for the other kayak.  So maybe it's a bit of a Swiss Army cart.

The wheels also come off with just the twist of a thumbscrew, and the entire cart collapses down to about 10" at its widest point (the wheel posts).

A braided wire cable extends between the legs to provide additional support, and the entire unit is quite lightweight.  A couple straps complete the package.  I was worried about how robust it might be, but it held up fine hauling a 12 ft. roto-molded yak this past summer.  Nothing fancy, and certainly not as bulletproof as many I've seen, but it'll hold me for a while.

I gotta give it to ya. That's pretty damn creative.


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Cool. That thing looks beefy.

Nice workmanship.


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excellent and I just happen to have a folding golf cart just like that one hanging in my garage...I am going to try and modify it to fit into the cart holes of a PA12...

  Salmonyella,
 Can you post a pic with your kayak on the cart ? I'd like to see how much clearance you have on the handle. Thanks---it is a cool idea.

Sure, I'll try to get one taken and posted today.  I was first interested by the wide flat wheels, thinking they would ride well across soft sand on beach approaches.

Meanwhile, fair warning, I consider this thing to still be in the experimental stage.  I've yet to put a fully loaded kayak on it and drag it through rough terrain.  Likewise, not all golf carts have a cable extending between the wheel struts, which I think is essential.  The cart would probably just pancake under a kayak without the cable.  Of course, the cable can easily be added.  Someone with a golf bag heavy enough to match a kayak could probably afford a riding cart, so these things aren't designed with that kind of weight in mind.   

5 minutes of stripping off stuff and I have the cart part left, I supported one end and kneeled on it (180#), didn't even flex much...cheers,roger

note there is a wire cable on this cart between the legs.

Here you go, Mark.  I had the cart positioned behind the balance point of the boat, but this pic still should give you an idea.  I also loaded the cart up with a spare wheel and tire for my car, to see how it would do under loading.

I may still modify this with positioning braces extending through the scuppers.  Anyway, this should give you an idea of the clearance.  It's pretty high off the ground, and shouldn't drag on moderate inclines.  The further back the cart's positioned, the more clearly you gain when going downhill.

By the way, Rodgerdodger, I used some long pad eyes (? - I can't remember what they're actually called) for the straps to pass through so that they won't slide forward or back along the cart.  I expect you can make many improvements on this, so please share when you're done. 

sweet, that looks great.

  Nice....
  Now go try it out on a beach and let us know how it handles.Looks like you've got plenty of clearance.Well done sir,well done.