Kayak fishing: Improving a bed extender

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Many kayak-tournament anglers feel a truck bed provides the most efficient means of launching and retrieving their boats. A bed extender that fits into the hitch receiver helps trucks with shorter beds securely carry a yak. Easily installed padding using duct tape and a swim noodle helps avert scratches in the plastic watercraft and keep the strapped-down boat from sliding. <p> <em>Captions: Dave Mull</em>
Many kayak-tournament anglers feel a truck bed provides the most efficient means of launching and retrieving their boats. A bed extender that fits into the hitch receiver helps trucks with shorter beds securely carry a yak. Easily installed padding using duct tape and a swim noodle helps avert scratches in the plastic watercraft and keep the strapped-down boat from sliding.

Captions: Dave Mull

Scissors provide an easy way to split the tube down the middle before draping it over the metal T-bar of the extender.
Scissors provide an easy way to split the tube down the middle before draping it over the metal T-bar of the extender.
Taper the noodle’s ends with a sharp knife to allow the duct tape to go on evenly.
Taper the noodle’s ends with a sharp knife to allow the duct tape to go on evenly.
Simply wrap the noodle and bar, compressing the noodle slightly. Although duct tape might seem a little on the chintzy side, a couple of layers with reinforcements in the middle of the T-bar where the kayak slides on can last for years. Plus, sometimes carpet, which some kayakers use instead, can pick up rocks and scratch the boat it was intended to protect.
Simply wrap the noodle and bar, compressing the noodle slightly. Although duct tape might seem a little on the chintzy side, a couple of layers with reinforcements in the middle of the T-bar where the kayak slides on can last for years. Plus, sometimes carpet, which some kayakers use instead, can pick up rocks and scratch the boat it was intended to protect.
A hitch stabilizer prevents the bed extender from bouncing in the hitch receiver. The stabilizer’s U-bolt goes over the top of the receiver, and its plate lifts the extender’s bar, eliminating any wiggle room.
A hitch stabilizer prevents the bed extender from bouncing in the hitch receiver. The stabilizer’s U-bolt goes over the top of the receiver, and its plate lifts the extender’s bar, eliminating any wiggle room.
A strap tightened down across the front of the yak further secures it and keeps it from bouncing, while also keeping large items from sliding out of the open bed.
A strap tightened down across the front of the yak further secures it and keeps it from bouncing, while also keeping large items from sliding out of the open bed.