Crab Trap Rack for an Outback

I am trying to setup my new Outback for crabbing. I was going to make an "H" bar out of PVC and stick it in the scupper holes however there are only two scupper holes in the rear. Is that what you guys do to stack your traps? I'm looking for ideas. Pictures help...thanks!

It looks like the opener is going to be blown out!?

Last year, before I got my own kayak, and the first time I go crabbing on one, my buddy and I launch off LM. Well, it looked calm to me and I didn’t see any reason to drive all the way to HMB. So he has 3 traps, the rectangular box style, and we have two kayaks (the kind of kayak you buy new for $200).
He put one trap on mine (at the back) and two on his (front and back).
Then he tells me to sit on my kayak and he’ll help me launch.
I say - what about the trap? Don’t you tie it down? He says no. I say - what if it falls down? He says it won’t. I say ok (it’s not my kayak or my trap, right?). And off I launch. I wait for him past the surf.
When he shows up, I say, where’s the 3rd trap? He says he dropped it, but it’s ok, we can pick it up on the way back. I say no, go get it. Haha. Off he goes back to the surf to rescue the lost trap. And sure enough he comes back with it.
Funny story with a simple lesson. Strap your trap.

I made these for my 2019 Outback. I'll post again for the 2016 Outback. All are made from 1/2 inch PVC. I used toilet bolts to fit in the gear tracks. Note I used 2 rubber washers to make the connection to the H rail track flat for the front rack. A bungee goes from the carry handle in front to the rack to hold them on for surf launches or rough water. They are super stable.

These are for the pre 2019 Outback model. Note that the front rack is held in place by a short bungee loop to the sail mount. You have to get the angles just right. A bungee from the front carry handle to the base of the rack holds them on when its rough. I use the bungee that comes on the kayak to fasten the rear rack on. All 1/2 inch PVC. 

Fantastic! Those are very creative designs...the gears are turning. Thanks for the ideas. I usually like to take out two traps and had it down on the OK 13 but this is a new rig and I have to figure out how to get comfortable with all the crab luggage. Thanks again!

Funny story with a simple lesson. Strap your trap.

Nope, DON'T strap your trap!!   If you roll your kayak, you wont be able to recover. The dangling trap's weight will fight against your efforts to recover and you wont be able to get back on top.

That's why PVC is a useful method. They prevent the traps/nets from sliding off but if you roll, the traps can drop free.  Also, keep your buoy attached to the traps, rolled up but not tied off.

As your friend did, if the traps end up in the water, the buoy will eventually unwind, resurface, and you can recover your stuff.

You'll hear it again this crabbing season. Someone will start screaming on the radio for help.  When you get there, be prepared to cut their kayak free of the traps/entanglements. It hapoens more and more every year with the growth of our sport.  Be safe   

Funny story with a simple lesson. Strap your trap.

Nope, DON'T strap your trap!!   If you roll your kayak, you wont be able to recover. The dangling trap's weight will fight against your efforts to recover and you wont be able to get back on top.

That's why PVC is a useful method. They prevent the traps/nets from sliding off but if you roll, the traps can drop free.  Also, keep your buoy attached to the traps, rolled up but not tied off.

As your friend did, if the traps end up in the water, the buoy will eventually unwind, resurface, and you can recover your stuff.

You'll hear it again this crabbing season. Someone will start screaming on the radio for help.  When you get there, be prepared to cut their kayak free of the traps/entanglements. It hapoens more and more every year with the growth of our sport.  Be safe   

Yikes. Thnx for posting this

this is my crab pot rack which holds 4 30 inch Dungeness pots.  The pvc in front goes into the aft rod holders and not the scuppers, as I use wheels with a scupper hole bracket, so this way the rack stays secured (using bungee sail furl ties west marine) for the season. 

I agree about not having your pots tied to the kayak for safety reasons.  You'll notice in the pictures these pots have their lines outside the pot and are not tied down in any way.  The bottom two pots are kept from sliding laterally by the pair of vertical pvc stems and the top two pots simply sit on top of the bottom pots.  Should the kayak capsize these pots will easily leave the kayak enabling you to recover the kayak, right it and get back on.  Meanwhile the pots are not lost as the line is free, and not locked up in the pot.  Sometimes if its a bit surfy I will secure the top pot to the pot underneath it using a west marine sail furl bungee tie down, which keeps the top pot holding to the bottom pot even if a wave hits; yet neither pot is attached to any part of the rack or kayak (very important)

this is my crab pot rack which holds 4 30 inch Dungeness pots.  The pvc in front goes into the aft rod holders and not the scuppers, as I use wheels with a scupper hole bracket, so this way the rack stays secured (using bungee sail furl ties west marine) for the season.

You must have the balance of an acrobat to load the rear traps on your kayak. Be sure to have someone film you doing that sometime 

this is my crab pot rack which holds 4 30 inch Dungeness pots.  The pvc in front goes into the aft rod holders and not the scuppers, as I use wheels with a scupper hole bracket, so this way the rack stays secured (using bungee sail furl ties west marine) for the season.

You must have the balance of an acrobat to load the rear traps on your kayak. Be sure to have someone film you doing that sometime 

Its very stable, as the pots are just 15 lbs.  The only pot that takes a bit of effort is the furthest aft bottom pot. 

Love the orange setup! I see another project to add to the list. PVC is so versatile only limited by our imagination.  Great advice on the rope and float free in case recovery is needed.