A plywood box

[Lollipop]

I'm getting ready to rebuild my kayak trailer and build another one or two. Current design calls for a box on the back of the trailer to store gear -- paddles, PFD, lights, etc., etc., etc. 6 feet wide, 5 feet tall, and 30" deep. It will have a closet rod so I can hang up 18 PFD. By mounting the box on the back of the trailer, I will be able to load 3 kayaks from each side without having to lift them much. Another 6 can be put on the second deck. As I am getting a little long in the tooth, 12 kayaks appeas to be a good number for a trip, rather than my current 22. By building a second trailer, I can con someone else to drag and load and unload the other trailer.

In the past I have built boxes with angle iron and then covered them with 1/4" or 3/8" plywood. After reading about stitch and glue and the Texas Teepee, I am wondering if either of those construction techniques would be better. And use 4 mm or 6 mm Luan. Whatever I build, it will be painted to hide any epoxy from the sun. One or more shelves can be added to add stability.

Comments, Suggestions, Brickbats.

Lollipop

[bowgarguide]

It should work well.
Ron

[gerald]

In S&G construction the fillets take the place of a traditional wood frame to provide strength and stiffness. The "skin" of the boat (wood/epoxy/fiberglass combination) is part of the overall strenght and stiffness. This provides kind of a lightweight, but strong, monocoque structure. Certainly it would work for a box as you describe. You would probably need to go with at least 6mm--probably more like 8mm-- and add braces, cleats, and hangers for the rod, etc.. So, you basically end up putting most of the framework back in! In this case I'd think that a basic 1X2 frame with cleats for the rods, etc. would be a better option--if I'm understanding exactly what you want.

[Lollipop]

Gerald,
It looks like you understand what I am thinking about doing. Another advantage of the box in back is that I can run a support across the back and clip the stern of each kayak to the support. This will help keep kayaks from moving forward or backwards and I will have a nice place to write the kayak names so others can load the trailer when I am too worn out.


Thanks for the help.
Lollipop

[gerald]

Any time you can get other people to load the boats it just means you are smart...