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DIY Rectangular Milk Crate Wanigan

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Mar 16, 2026
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Here is my idea for a Milk Crate Wanigan.

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https://a.co/d/0i9Kg8Dr

^Amazon listing for an interior bag. I think it should be made out of waxed canvas with a bathtub floor to keep the canoe’s standing water out when the crate is in the boat. It may be nice to sew the sides on the exterior of the floor for rain as well as a covered zipper.


The cool thing about the NRS straps is that they are adjustable, “bite” like a tauntline hitch when picked up by one strap, and can be carried like a tote in and out of the boat (the massive 1.5 inch cam buckles can be rotated easily to the side of the crate so as to sit flat on the bottom of the boat). The interior bag can be taken out of the crate to be taken into the tent or set on top of the empty crate. The 9 foot size leaves roughly 3 feet of excess. I am thinking between foam and heavy clothing or a life jacket, ample room. You can double back the extra on the buckle and tuck it inside the crate to keep it out of the way.
Anyway, this is a pretty different concept. I did pick up 1” closed cell foam at NRS as well for back padding and I think cutting it to the size of the interior dimension would allow it to “seat” inside the open side of the crate and have it attached to a semi rigid cutting board. This could be used as both a back pad while portaging or a solid table while in camp or on the water. I intially wanted to make into a hinged door so the wanigan could be set upright on end, but I think this would need to be tested. My thought to secure the foam attached solid board would be stainless or brass carriage bolts through the crate and attached with wing nuts on the interior. this would supply the mechanism hardware for a hinge.

Cheers,
Erik Jensen
East Hope, Idaho

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