PVC Console for Hobie PA-17T

The Hobie PA-17T has a huge head start for rigging with the "h-rails" down both sides, floor hatches, vantage seats, mesh rubber side pockets, and rod holder holes on either end.  For the first few trips, I thought that would about cover it, but I put a cooler in the middle and got really annoyed having to remove and replace bungee cords dozens of times a day so it wouldn't slide around and get in the way.  As with most kayaks I've ever had, the easiest and least expensive remedy for shortcomings in the stock rigging always seems to lead back to PVC pipes and elbows.  The Hobie PA-17T's lack of a good place to put a cooler was no exception.  So, in case someone else is looking for inspiration, here's what I did...

The rail around the cooler and the posts that go into the scupper holes are made from 3/4" PVC.

The rod holders on either side are made with 1-1/4" PVC crosses, pipe and caps.  The bungee cords are retained by threading them across a short cross-cut piece of 1-1/4" PVC.

The 3/4" PVC is adapted to the 1-1/4" cross with a step-down bushing.

The 3/4" pipes extend a few inches into the scupper holes which combines with a bungee on either side to keep the whole thing very secure.

Parts List

• (4) 1.25" PVC Cross
• (2) 0.75" PVC Cross
• (4) 1.25" PVC External Cap
• (4) 0.75" PVC 90deg Elbow
• (4) 1.25" to 0.75" Bushing
• (1) 0.75" 10' Sched 40 PVC Pipe
• (1) 1.25" 10' Sched 40 PVC Pipe
• (1 Small Can) General Purpose PVC Cement 

SketchUp PVC Drawings