milk crate cargo net

I made a cargo net cover for my milk crate that should prevent me from losing gear during surf launches. I made it out of materials that most kayakers already have: ~30' of para cord and the elastic cord that is used for rigging kayaks. It only requires two knots: a bowline knot and many, many sheet bends.

Here are some instructions if anyone is interested in making their own.

Building the net
1) Tie a bowline knot in one end of para cord. The loop should be 4 - 4.5" when pulled tight.
2) Hang from nail and start creating more loops by tying sheet bend knots. Extend chain to 5 or 6 loops for standard milk crate.
3) Weave chain through a dowel rod and hang horizontally. Continue adding mesh to the net until it is a square.
4) The last mesh knot can be finished with another sheet bend (double wrapped and tightened).

Securing net to crate
5) Weave the elastic cord through the mesh and around the milk crate and tie it off. This crate had ridges that kept the elastic cord in place when it was stretched over them.
6) I secured the elastic cord around the crate with one last sheet bend.  Tie a figure eight knot in one end and doubled the other end before tying the sheet bend.

Another option - go to a motorcycle dealership and buy a small bungie cord net with hooks on its corners and sides which is used to strap a helmet onto the back of a motorcycle. Do an internet search for "motorcycle helmet bungee cargo net."

Looks good, could repair a cast net with that knot I suspect...hope you never lose any gear in the surf.  What a mess...

Ha! I did a search before deciding to make my own. I didn't find anything that would work but the motorcycle helmet net sounds like a good solution.

The instructions did come from a book on fishing knots and net making. I've had it for years but decided to make the cargo net after I flipped my kayak while diving a few weekends ago.

ATV cargo rack nets are a good size too.