A watercraft carrier, for example, for carrying a kayak, includes a base having an outboard end, a distal end, and an upper surface. The watercraft carrier includes a hub disposed at the distal end of the base and an upright coupled to the hub and configured to rotate with respect to the base. The watercraft carrier includes a handle disposed at the outboard end of the base configured to release the upright from a locked configuration such that the upright can rotate from a first position to a second position. Displacing the handle in an outboard direction releases the upright from the locked configuration.