DIY Kayak camera mounts were invented as kayak anglers and touring paddlers begun to capture photography and video of their trips to share their point of view with family and friends. With the affordability of waterproof cameras and now the light weight action sports cameras anyone can record their day of fishing, paddling  and with a little time behind a computer and video editing software compile pretty neat short videos of highlights! The following are a few mounts I have used in the past!

The DIY PVC Pipe Camera Mount:

The inexpensive way to mount a camera to your kayak. A length of 1/2″ PVC makes for great DIY camera mounts. You have the ability to customize the mount to fit your personal needs. You may not know this but 1/2″ PVC slides loosely with no play right into a Scotty mount with ease. Want it to snug up? A single layer of Gorilla Tape around the portion that will insert into the Scotty mount will snug up nicely.

Using a 1/2″ PVC cap and drilling a hole that will allow a 1/4 – 20 screw will allow the camera to mount directly to its threaded insert. The downside of PVC is the longer the length the more flex the less of a still video image.

Small Camera Tripods:

Cheap 6″ mini camera tripods are also great due to their pivoting head creates the ability to level out the camera. To mount the mini tripod you can use zip ties mount just about anywhere. You can also remove the leg portion of this tripos and use the pivoting head on the PVC mount above. Simply install it where drilled to accept the 1/4 20 screw.

The Good Old Hat Tripod!

Some Kayak anglers simply drilled a hole through the bill of a baseball cap then ran a 1/4 20 bolt though threaded side up. You now have a head mounted camera on the cheap! These hat cam hats can also be purchased from eBay and Amazon.

A Standard Camera Mount such as Tripod or Mono Pod and Accessories:

A standard camera tripod is commonly used. As a matter of fact Kayak Kevin uses one all the time with his Sony Handy Cam setup zip tied to his crate. This is most likely the best way to mount heavy cameras such as DSLR and Handy Cam types. There are many attachments you can use to add on to a tripod such as L Brackets. An L Bracket can be used to mount a GoPro to a tripod using the GoPro tripod mount. The L Bracket gives the ability to mount hot shoe accessories such as a shotgun microphone with a wind screen or a photo light for night video. The L Bracket also doubles as a nice handle for less shaky video.

The mono pod also works well due to its ability to collapse and extend. It is great to use on the kayak with any lightweight action camera. The ability to extend it out and take hero shots It can be stowed in a rod holder also can be lashed to a milk crate for high angle rear shots.

Its good to have a tripod for photos and video from land. I prefer a tripod with the ball pivot as it is the most adjustable. These typically are the most professional and are great for keeping your shot level on all types of terrain. 90% of my land based video and photography is taken using a tripod with a Cannon T4i EOS SLR Camera utilizing multiple lenses. The photos below are examples of using a tripod from a beach or pier to stabilize the camera with a 300 mm telephoto lense at its maximum distance!

Review:

This camera mount is by far the most rigid mount that is over 6″ in length I have tested yet. It has minimal flex therefore the camera is stable and captures a better shot than most other mounts. The mount featured in this review is the one with the Yak Attack style T Bolt gear track attachment also known as the RAM pin lock. This will mount to tracks from YakAttack, Jackson Kayak, Wilderness Systems, and Native along with other manufacturers bases. See the Kayak Rigging 101 Mounting Base Options Article!

Its ability to be bent and molded in any direction is phenomenal! Great for shots extended off the side of the kayak or underwater / top water shots.

This mount has become my new favorite camera mount. I haven’t even scratched the surface on camera angles it can provide.

Get yours at your local kayak dealer or RamMount.com.

Web link:

RAM Mounts Flex Arm Camera Mount

Below is Quoted from the Ram Mounts Website:

Post Pinlock Base, 18″ Rigid Aluminum Rod and Single Socket Arm

Description:

The RAP-B-200-1-TRA1-18U consists of quick release post pinlock base, 18″ rigid aluminum rod and single socket arm for 1″ ball bases/adapters. The pinlock base contains a unique t-bolt mechanism that stabilizes the entire mount, along with making it compatible with most kayak tracks. The 18″ rigid aluminum rod can be bent to position your device to its optimum viewing location. The single socket is compatible with all 1″ ball bases and adapters.

Features:
1. Quick release and installation
2. Pinlock system creates added friction and stability
3. High strength materials ensure product longevity
4. Suitable for marine environments
5. 18″ rod can be bent and repositioned
6. Compatible tracks include Yakattack’s GearTrac System, Wilderness Systems SlideTrax and common T-Slot Track Systems
7. Easily relocate mount along any point on the track
8. Extremely versatile for adapting to almost any application
9. Swivel/swing technology allows for easy turning of mount and prevents obstruction
10. Lifetime warranty

Material:
High Strength Composite & Aluminum

Ball Size:
1″ Rubber Ball “B” Size