Carry Handles....................Am I insane??

No longer Yakless.......THANKS MARK!!............But with my back and knee issues, proper lifting of even something as light as my new (to me  ) Ocean Kayak Scrambler XT is.  So here it goes.

Am I COMPLETELY out of my mind for wanting to mount a handle on either side of the balance point to make lifting/carrying MUCH easier.  I am thinking high density plastic or even BRASS mounted with brass screws and drywall anchors??

I am also looking at fabricating an anchor system as well.

The towed, floating net "live well" seems pretty simple to me.

Derek/DSRTEGL

That is short for Desert Eagle Folks!

My new p15 didn't have side handles. I baught hadles from Aquin; worth every penny!

Give this a try:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,7919.0.html

I like the webbing and reinforced tubing handles as suggested by Tote.  Sounds like a plan and softer than the solid brass or plastic I was looking at.  Now all I need to figure out is the mounting hardware.

Would like to use high density platic or brass mounting hardware for corrosion resistance but I am ALWAYS looking for suggestions.

Derek/DSRTEGL

You might find some non-metallic hardware, but keep in mind that even the nylon eyeloops that West Marine sells(for awnings, etc.) have broken when I used them with a strap to lift a yak.
 My OSH has stainless steel nuts(get the ones with nylon inserts that act like lock nuts), bolts, washers (get the biggest ones that will fit to spread the load), and they work fine.  If you can't hold the washer in place while attaching the nut from underneath, use some masking tape to hold it.
  I like that old post about carry handles, I might put a couple extra on mine just to have a secure grip when loading.
   If you prepare properly are willing to spend a little more time in the process of loading/unloading, I don't know why you'd have to lift very much.

Fuzzy Tom

One of my concerns is getting access to the interior of the yak to attach nuts and washers........I don't think the Scrambler XT has much access for that at the centerline where I want to place the carry handles for even weight distribution.


Hm...........................Will have to take a look at that.

D

My OSH has stainless steel nuts(get the ones with nylon inserts that act like lock nuts), bolts, washers (get the biggest ones that will fit to spread the load), and they work fine. 

I use these also for nearly all of my kayak mods.

If you can't hold the washer in place while attaching the nut from underneath, use some masking tape to hold it.

Doh!  I wish I had thought of that sooner, Tom!  It would have saved me a lot of frustration, not to mention that it would have eliminated the string of curses that my family had to listen to.

Derek,

If you do not have access to the inside of the kayak where the handles will be installed, then the far and away best fastener is an aircraft rivet. GWKC (scwafish) and HookOne both have sold them to me in the past. Heck, I ordered 25 of the things the last time I put in order with HookOne, just to have plenty of them on hand.

Scott

I picked up a set of Ocean Kayak handles at Aquan for $20 oir so dollars ( I forgot how much but around that price).  I used the rivets that came with them and I haven't had any problems.