How do you portage your kayak?

I didn't have much problem with just throwing mine up over my head and resting the padded seat right on top of my head, but I think a yoke would be a better option. I'm hoping to build one before my next trip.

I've also been discussing with some paddling friends just using 2 people to carry it. Portaging with packs on, and one person just hold the handle on each end to carry it across. Haven't tried that but it seems like that'd be pretty easy as well.

I used a clamp-on wood and pad yoke for the first few years, then made a pvc "chair" with nylon strapping resting on my shoulders. this year I'm making one that will just clip onto the coaming and raise the kayak about 6".

I'm wondering if a wood yoke has to be oak, or if any wood will do, definitely don't want it breaking while you're up there.

Do you have any photos carrying your kayak with your pvc "chair"? I was thinking of making a sling to carry my kayak like a messenger bag.

Have made wood yokes for both my 17' and 10' yaks. Neither are oak. Have used them on many trips. No problems.

Got my shoulder sling made. Pictures to come soon.

I have an external frame kayak that I put on the back of the kayak when I am not portaging.

I have made a wood support with foam on top that I put the kayak on. I like this setup because once the kayak is on the backpack I don't have to hold the kayak.

I will try to get a picture of it soon.

I am new and about to take my first trip out to BWCA. Looking at a minimum of two weeks solo. If I can't afford to rent a canoe. I'll be taking my 14 foot kayak. Does anyone have pictures of yoke options I can make?

quote bradcrc: "...I didn't have much problem with just throwing mine up over my head and resting the padded seat right on top of my head, [snip...]Portaging with packs on, and one person just hold the handle on each end to carry it across..."

Either of those options will work. Both of those options get old real quick on a long portage, or after a number of days. For the first option, the top of your head gets really sore after a few portages, and it starts straining your neck.

On the second option there are multiple problems - rather than one person carrying the kayak over uneven ground, over boulders, roots, etc, 2 people have to coordinate doing so. Adds to the difficulty. Also, when double-carrying 2 kayaks with 2 people, the guy in the back often can't see his footing. And, as I noticed while carrying in the 35 lb kitty litter bucket from the car last night, we are much better suited for carrying weight on our shoulders directly over the center of gravity rather than in our hands alone. As with paddling, using the large core muscles is much better than using the smaller arm/hand ones.

That all said, if you've got two or three 25 rod portages, no problem. Maybe a yoke isn't worth the effort. It's when you hit those 60+ rod ones, multiple ones, or 3-4+ days that it really becomes an issue.

Spring creek makes one that looks good, any tried this one?
http://store.springcreek.com/Yokes/Yokes/Kayak-Yoke-by-Spring-Creek-p1597.html

I tried the spring creek yoke for kayaks. I never could get it to work. It was difficult to get it to stay in place. also, when I tried to put the kayak on my shoulders, it was very difficult to balance it. Imagine hour shoulder as the "center of a wheel" or the pivot point. With the spring creek yoke, the kayak is moved further away from the pivot point and by definition is harder to balance.

I just bout the wood kayak yoke from Piragis. Has two formed shoulder pad/supports. It clamps on tight.

I have a 14 foot touring kayak (front/back hatches, rudder) and a 17 foot Current Designs Storm GT. The 14 foot weighs 55 pounds, the Storm 65 pounds. Both are rated for 400 pounds carrying cap.

this year I will probably take the Storm. I bought tapered dry bags for the front and rear hatches, and Sealine deck and stern bags. My plan is to put all gear in the four dry bags. . .when I hit a portage, pull out the two tapered dry bags and carry them using my paddle shaft. Remove the two deck bags and do the same. If it is a short portage, I slip a "noodle" (kids water toy thing) on the cowling of the cockpit and carry it on my shoulder. if longer, I'll use the Piragis yoke.

I tried portaging a 16 foot Chinook three years ago without a yoke using two guys to carry it with gear still in it. Never do that again!

I picked up one at REI a few years ago very similar to the one I saw in Piragis this fall when there. Wood yoke with black plastic jaws that clamp down to the gunwale with bolts that have plastic knobs. Tended to squeeze the lip around the cockpit and unless really tight would slip. Worked fine other than the occasional slip and my concern I would break the rim of the cockpit.

Have any of you tried one of these?

http://www.outdoorplay.com/Kayak-Portage-Pad


looks like it would make carrying on shoulder much easier

the foam pad thing looks good. did you get one markroberts? I have been thinking about something like this and going DYI but for $17 I could give it a try.

I ordered one. In the past, I just used a piece of "noodle" (foam pool toy) that I cut a slot in. This worked well as it stayed in place on my shoulder better. I am going to put velcro on the edge of the cockpit and on the foam block to hold it in place when portaging.

thanks for the feedback.

Just got back from my first solo and first kayak trip. I have a WS Tsunami 145 and I bought the Yoke that Piragis had for sale. At first I thought I would just shoulder it on short Portages. But the yoke worked so well I ended up using almost every portage. The key for me was to leave some of my gear in the rear hatch to get it to balance well.