a personal boat carrying apparatus is provided for supporting a kayak or similar boat on a user during a portage to make portaging a kayak easier and less uncomfortable . the apparatus is lightweight but durable and has a body with a curved and arched center portion for resting on the shoulders of a user carrying the kayak , and two opposite body ends . each body end has a support arm which pivots from a closed position to one or more open positions . the pivoting support arm provides multiple open positions to allow the apparatus to support kayaks and similar boats of different widths and configurations . each support may have a swiveling bracket for engaging the gunwale of the cockpit of the kayak or similar boat . when the support arms are in the closed position , the apparatus may be compactly stored in the boat or elsewhere .