New Tarpon Carry Handles w/pics

I am getting my old school T-160 ready for salmon season. The carry handles were brittle and one even ripped apart so it was time to replace them.
I found I could get a pair for $25. Well I need 2 pair but no way was I going to spend $50 for four new handles.
I came up with 4 on my own for about $5 total.
Use the same screws and nylon washers that are on the kayak now.
You will need 2 feet of 1'' clear nylon reinforced hose. About $1.50 a foot at Home Depot.
Four pieces (13'' each ) of 1'' polypropylene webbing. ( REI  about .50 a foot ).
Fold each end of the webbing over about 1 1/4 inch and run a sewing stitch across.
Heat up the end of a phillips screwdriver and burn a hole thru each end matching the diameter of the screws. Use the old handles to get an idea of where.
Cut the clear hose at 5 1/2'' each.
Slide the webbing through the hose and screw them back onto your kayak.
I put a drop of liquid wrench in each screw hole to keep corrosion out. I also added a dab of goop around each hole just to give the webbing a little added security.
Looks good, works great, and at 1/10th the cost of OEM handles it is well worth the effort.

U da man Tote! 

Z

Very nice Mike ! Looks even better than the original ones

Looks good   If you can pick your own webbing for it they'll probably last longer too

I can't believe how much they charge you for those handles

I beefed up hatch the straps too.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=7963.msg69674#msg69674

Great job Tote!!

Stuart

Tote... I really like the improvements you made to the handles and the hatch straps.  You take a very cool and practical approach to rigging yaks!