In the movie 'Master and Commander' there is a memorable scene where in order to escape from a persueing French Navy vessel, a decoy is made by fitting a stern lantern on top of a raft. This scene inspired the idea of securing a lantern to the back of a kayak, using a tripod made from empty beverage cans, so it can be seen while kayaking at night.

Supplies

Battery powered lantern

Three, 1/4 inch bolts and nuts

Plastic crate top

Aluminium beverage cans

Cord

Glue

Tape

Step 1: Tripod

A Tripod was made from aluminum beverage cans as described in making a camera tripod:

https://www.instructables.com/Tripod-for-Pinhole-Camera/

Use tape to make the legs ridged. The feet of the legs are fixed to a base, made from the top of a plastic storage crate.

Step 2: Attaching the Lantern

To attach a lantern to to tripod use the 'ring thing' from a pull off tin can top. Cut one of the sides with wire cutters so the string can slip through. This makes a simple shackle, allowing the lantern to he easily attached and removed from the tripod.

Step 3: Securing the Legs

The feet of the tripod legs need to be fixed to the plastic base so there is no movement. This was done by:
*Inserting a few loops of cord into the hollow tube feet and glueing in.
*Drilling three, 1/4 inch holes in the plastic base.
*Eliminating 'play' in the loops of cord which are attached to the base with 1/4 inch bolts and nuts using tape - as shown in the photos.

Step 4: Attaching to a Kayak

The base is attached to the back of a kayak using the kayak's hatch straps.

Step 5: Storage

The beauty of this kayak tripod is it can be made flat for storage. Just remove the lantern from the shackle, unscrew the nut from the middle bolt and fold down flat.