Three kayaks and one canoe leaned against the shed sitting in the mud. The wind regularly blew them over and across the yard. The situation was less than ideal. I needed to do something. For a while I had kept the fleet of paddle boats in the garage, but mom wanted her garage back, so I built a kayak tree.
List of materials:
Pressure Treated Lumber:
(2) – 6′ 4×6
(3)- 6′ 2×6
(2)-10′ 2×6
(4)-8′ 2×4
Hardware
(16)- 4″ 3/8 lag bolts
A bunch – 3″ self driving deck screws.
Tools
Impact driver
Drill
Saw horses or tail gate
Circular saw
Ratchet drive and socket
Mountain Dew
The Home Depot bill was around $182, but I purchased a few other things along with the list of materials. When I did the take off on their website the night before, the cost of the build was $101. But I saw a few things I just had to get.
The 4×6’s are used as the base for the kayak tree. I cut the ends on an angle to make it easier to tow around when I go to move the rack around the yard. Next mark the center of the 4x6s and bolt on the vertical 6′ 2x6s on the centerline mark. Pre-drill the holes before screwing in the lag bolts.
The next step required a second set of hands. I could have used a deadman to stand up the rack sections, but it was easier to ask for help. The 10′ 2×6 is then cut in half and bolted to the 4x6s as cross bracing. With my mother holding up one of the rack sides, I drilled and bolted the 2×6 cross braces.
The last 2×6 is screwed to the top of the vertical 2x6s to help stabilize the rack. I also ran (2) 2×4 cross braces from the 4x6s to the vertical 2x6s to help eliminate the rocking of the rack.
The arms come next. Cut the 2x4s into 36″ pieces. To set the angle of the arms, measure a 1/2″ off of one end of the 36″ arm and cut the end at an angle from the 1/2″ mark to nothing on the other end. 
Set the first pair of arms 8″ up from the top of the 4×6. Clamp the arm in place and using the wood screws, screw them in place. Using my kayaks as a guide, I determined that 22″ between the arms would fit the kayaks.
Kayaks and canoe are now off the ground.
Post repair – The arms for the canoe need to be a little longer and I intent to cut 2 more arms for the canoe at 42″.
