Wondering what roof trays are popular especially for carrying one only one person kayak on kayak holders. We have looked at Rhino rack, pretty expensive!, also the Rhino Alloy tray which is quite a bit cheaper but it needs all the extra pieces to fit it to the BT50. We have veered away from the steel baskets due to weight and rusting in the future. Any good comments welcome please.
Kim
brickies said
05:29 PM Mar 9, 2017
Thanks for this post Kim I have a 3.8 m fishing Kayak to be carried on a Prado , So I may get some good advice to .
Cupie said
08:53 PM Mar 9, 2017
Hi..
To get appropriate advice you may need to provide additional information on the kayak type.
eg.
Sit on Tops are carried upside down and directly on padded roof racks. Though I believe that you can carry them on their edge in special cradles if you want to be different.
( It won't help you but mine sit on very old gutter clipped Genuine Nissan roof racks, modified with a longer bar & special foam padding from Clark Rubber, to accommodate two kayaks plus paddles. For short trips in my town car, a Mazda3, I use some soft roof racks that were thrown in with one of the kayaks that I got 2nd hand. I'd worry about them rubbing off the paint if used for long trips.)
Sit Ins are carried right way up but in supporting saddles/cradles attached to the roof racks. I don't have one but if I did I would look at fitting a skirt or whatever to stop it filling with water in case of rain.
Whatever you choose make sure that you use front & rear ropes as well as straps around the racks. In my case I use an additional extra long strap that goes right over the top of the kayaks & through the Patrol's doors. I actually go to the trouble of threading it down through the inside scupper hole on the first yak, under the roof bar, back up through the 2nd yak inside scupper hole and then over it & through the door. If the roof racks let go then this extra strap will take over. I only go to this trouble when touring, not if just transporting from camp to water.
Might be a bit over the top but I'd hate to see my yaks bouncing down the road or into a passing vehicle.
I have also found that if you use straps rather than rope tie downs, you will need to twist the straps to stop the annoying hum as they vibrate in the wind stream.
ps. Avoid ratchet tie downs or you may warp or split your hull. I use cam buckle straps.
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 9th of March 2017 09:01:09 PM
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 9th of March 2017 09:06:20 PM
Bushpie said
10:19 PM Mar 9, 2017
Sad story.....met a lovely couple in Esperance last week.....put two kayaks on racks on roof of tug.....passed a rather large truck and woosh...ripped out of tug roof......
Double check your vehicle warranty re roof racks and what you can carry on them
Goldfinger said
10:58 PM Mar 9, 2017
Following on from Bushpie's comment.....and I may not be answering your question, but offering an alternative to consider....I use my roof rack for carrying my caravan annex and 6th wheel....so I purchased an inflatable double Kayak...only 16kgs in its own self contained smallish bag..a breeze to inflate and deflate...sits in the back of my dual cab with everything else.....recently at Greens Lake with youngest grandkid.....does all I want....and it holds/tows my school girl figure which is now 116Kgs, easily.....lol....
I always remember that couple that toured Australia for that popular caravan magazine. Marg?..saying, that the one thing they would not take on their next lap was both their roof mounted single kayaks..only used them once, and were a pain in the butt on top of their vehicle, wind wise etc...
Good luck...Hoo Roo
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Thursday 9th of March 2017 11:10:52 PM
Following on from Bushpie's comment.....and I may not be answering your question, but offering an alternative to consider....I use my roof rack for carrying my caravan annex and 6th wheel....so I purchased an inflatable double Kayak...only 16kgs in its own self contained smallish bag..a breeze to inflate and deflate...sits in the back of my dual cab with everything else.....recently at Greens Lake with youngest grandkid.....does all I want....and it holds/tows my school girl figure which is now 116Kgs, easily.....lol....
I always remember that couple that toured Australia for that popular caravan magazine. Marg?..saying, that the one thing they would not take on their next lap was both their roof mounted single kayaks..only used them once, and were a pain in the butt on top of their vehicle, wind wise etc...
Good luck...Hoo Roo
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Thursday 9th of March 2017 11:10:52 PM
re not taking kayaks ..... Each to their own I suppose. For me, I always take at least one kayak & use it at every opportunity. Nothing in my mind compares to an early morning or dusk paddle. Well, almost nothing.
I just can't imagine heading off without a yak.
Inflatables and folding kayaks have come a long way in recent years. If you can get one with a good hull shape that's half the battle particularly with respect to wind effect.
gandk said
08:09 AM Mar 10, 2017
Thank you all who have answered. And what a great idea an inflatable one. Where did you buy it Goldfinger and do you know the weight of it please.
Kim
gandk said
08:11 AM Mar 10, 2017
Oooops. I just re-read your post. 16kg. Very good. But would still like to know where you purchased it and is it Qseav on the side?
Kim
Cupie said
09:21 AM Mar 10, 2017
gandk wrote:
Oooops. I just re-read your post. 16kg. Very good. But would still like to know where you purchased it and is it Qseav on the side?
Kim
Before you chose an inflatable you might like to do some research.
The site on the link below is to a highly respected USA Kayaking organisation. It gives you access to a wealth of information on most aspects of Kayaking. Take some time to explore the site. Some fantastic stuff there. They send me a free monthly newsletter full of great kayaking & canoeing tips & links.
Many if not all products reviewed can be obtained from Australian Kayak warehouses.
A word of warning ... Don't be tempted by a cheapie Kayak of any sort on special from the big sporting/fishing & camping stores. It is certainly a case of you get what you pay for. You might just end up getting blown around the bay or wobbling about like a drunken sailor if you choose a cheap dud. Profile, weight & hull design are critical for anything more than just pottering about in the shallows with the kids.
ps. I would consider Collapsable/Foldable ones too. Arguably a better craft with the same advantage of space saving. Perhaps a bit dearer & marginally harder/slower to assemble.
Edit .. For my own interest, I followed up on a ramdomly chosen kayak listed at the foot of the selection table and got this. Now this highender is what Inflatables are all about. I'd love one of these.
-- Edited by Cupie on Friday 10th of March 2017 09:29:42 AM
-- Edited by Cupie on Friday 10th of March 2017 10:16:58 AM
Goldfinger said
11:55 AM Mar 10, 2017
G'day Kim, some good advice from Cupie above....I got mine from Anaconda..its called a Seak Soar double kayak. It has the following stamped on side. EN ISO 6185-1-2001 category 111. GMBH TCH1BO, Hamburg Germany...the paddles are very compact 5 piece each/screw in....20.5Kgs all up....4200 x 850 x 300 inflated = 14' x 3' x 1'....3 air chambers /tubes within outer tough skin..with zippers if access is needed....3 Boston Valves......wife and I made it half way across Greens Lake...before she realised she was the only one doing any paddling...lmao..I was in the back...lol.....
Obviously the dearer Sea Eagles would be excellent inflatables for more strenuous stuff....Kayaks are fun and handy if we encounter flood water I guess....Grandkids love riding in the front..
Good luck..Hoo Roo
Hi again
Wondering what roof trays are popular especially for carrying one only one person kayak on kayak holders. We have looked at Rhino rack, pretty expensive!, also the Rhino Alloy tray which is quite a bit cheaper but it needs all the extra pieces to fit it to the BT50. We have veered away from the steel baskets due to weight and rusting in the future. Any good comments welcome please.
Kim
Hi..
To get appropriate advice you may need to provide additional information on the kayak type.
eg.
Sit on Tops are carried upside down and directly on padded roof racks. Though I believe that you can carry them on their edge in special cradles if you want to be different.
( It won't help you but mine sit on very old gutter clipped Genuine Nissan roof racks, modified with a longer bar & special foam padding from Clark Rubber, to accommodate two kayaks plus paddles. For short trips in my town car, a Mazda3, I use some soft roof racks that were thrown in with one of the kayaks that I got 2nd hand. I'd worry about them rubbing off the paint if used for long trips.)
Sit Ins are carried right way up but in supporting saddles/cradles attached to the roof racks. I don't have one but if I did I would look at fitting a skirt or whatever to stop it filling with water in case of rain.
Whatever you choose make sure that you use front & rear ropes as well as straps around the racks. In my case I use an additional extra long strap that goes right over the top of the kayaks & through the Patrol's doors. I actually go to the trouble of threading it down through the inside scupper hole on the first yak, under the roof bar, back up through the 2nd yak inside scupper hole and then over it & through the door. If the roof racks let go then this extra strap will take over. I only go to this trouble when touring, not if just transporting from camp to water.
Might be a bit over the top but I'd hate to see my yaks bouncing down the road or into a passing vehicle.
I have also found that if you use straps rather than rope tie downs, you will need to twist the straps to stop the annoying hum as they vibrate in the wind stream.
ps. Avoid ratchet tie downs or you may warp or split your hull. I use cam buckle straps.
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 9th of March 2017 09:01:09 PM
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 9th of March 2017 09:06:20 PM
Double check your vehicle warranty re roof racks and what you can carry on them
Following on from Bushpie's comment.....and I may not be answering your question, but offering an alternative to consider....I use my roof rack for carrying my caravan annex and 6th wheel....so I purchased an inflatable double Kayak...only 16kgs in its own self contained smallish bag..a breeze to inflate and deflate...sits in the back of my dual cab with everything else.....recently at Greens Lake with youngest grandkid.....does all I want....and it holds/tows my school girl figure which is now 116Kgs, easily.....lol....
I always remember that couple that toured Australia for that popular caravan magazine. Marg?..saying, that the one thing they would not take on their next lap was both their roof mounted single kayaks..only used them once, and were a pain in the butt on top of their vehicle, wind wise etc...
Good luck...Hoo Roo
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Thursday 9th of March 2017 11:10:52 PM
re not taking kayaks ..... Each to their own I suppose. For me, I always take at least one kayak & use it at every opportunity. Nothing in my mind compares to an early morning or dusk paddle. Well, almost nothing.
I just can't imagine heading off without a yak.
Inflatables and folding kayaks have come a long way in recent years. If you can get one with a good hull shape that's half the battle particularly with respect to wind effect.
Thank you all who have answered. And what a great idea an inflatable one. Where did you buy it Goldfinger and do you know the weight of it please.
Kim
Oooops. I just re-read your post. 16kg. Very good. But would still like to know where you purchased it and is it Qseav on the side?
Kim
Before you chose an inflatable you might like to do some research.
The site on the link below is to a highly respected USA Kayaking organisation. It gives you access to a wealth of information on most aspects of Kayaking. Take some time to explore the site. Some fantastic stuff there. They send me a free monthly newsletter full of great kayaking & canoeing tips & links.
Many if not all products reviewed can be obtained from Australian Kayak warehouses.
A word of warning ... Don't be tempted by a cheapie Kayak of any sort on special from the big sporting/fishing & camping stores. It is certainly a case of you get what you pay for. You might just end up getting blown around the bay or wobbling about like a drunken sailor if you choose a cheap dud. Profile, weight & hull design are critical for anything more than just pottering about in the shallows with the kids.
ps. I would consider Collapsable/Foldable ones too. Arguably a better craft with the same advantage of space saving. Perhaps a bit dearer & marginally harder/slower to assemble.
https://paddling.com/reviews/category/kayaks/inflatable/
Edit .. For my own interest, I followed up on a ramdomly chosen kayak listed at the foot of the selection table and got this. Now this highender is what Inflatables are all about. I'd love one of these.
https://www.seaeagle.com/RazorLite/393rl
-- Edited by Cupie on Friday 10th of March 2017 09:29:42 AM
-- Edited by Cupie on Friday 10th of March 2017 10:16:58 AM
Obviously the dearer Sea Eagles would be excellent inflatables for more strenuous stuff....Kayaks are fun and handy if we encounter flood water I guess....Grandkids love riding in the front..
Good luck..Hoo Roo