The Yakima gutter towers are called the "1A" btw. They typically have the round crossbars on the top, but you can also attach anything (like a board, riser, etc.) to the flat part of the top with a fastener through the hole (you remove the circle thingie that holds the round bars). I have done this many times "back in the day" for making my own kayak racks (with boards vs. bars). As mentioned, they are pretty easy to find these days on Craigslist, etc. due to so many cars no longer having gutters, so people just have them gathering dust.
I thought about the fact that a kayak would block a solar panel, but then figured that would be mostly underway, and then I have the alternator going. When anchoring you might be likely to launch it anyway (?)
Here are a few ideas/photos that I have saved from other C-Dories:
1) I think PVC could work even though the handrails diverge (unless I'm not visualizing how you meant). They diverge slightly on a 22 as well, but you can angle the feet relative to the cross bar. This is 1" PVC (Prosimedia):
2) Yakima 1A gutter towers (Bossa Nova and Scout). Bossa Nova has used boards across instead of the bars (maybe he's an old kayaker too?). I think you could add some spacers between the brackets and the cross bars - especially if not putting a super heavy load on.
3) Taylor Made rail-mount flagpole sockets have been used along with stainless tubing (Carpy, C-Daisy):
4) C-Dory Grace made these wooden racks that lash onto the handrail tubing. Maybe they give an idea that could be modified:
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Another possibility: I'm making a base for some semi-rigid solar panels using these split mounts on the handrails: Not actual size :shock:
http://www.sailrite.com/Split-Side-Mount-7-8-Stainless
Sometimes these can come in handy in various ways:
http://www.rei.com/product/672423/river ... oam-blocks
