Hi Campers

Further to my enquiry (May 1st) about canoes/kayaks - well, DH has bought one.  Now, how do we get it on the car roof without doing our backs  in?  It's a double and we were told around 35kgs (feels more to me) Someone mentioned a lifting rig?  Any ideas?  It's longer than I thought it would be and needs to be turned over and transported upside down...  Ohhhh......    I feel a problem coming on..... Thanks, Jay-Jay

OH forgot, he bought an 'AquaYak'....   it's made here in Vic and we got it at the Bendigo LeisureShow...  Jay-Jay

We travel with 2 kayaks - one a 15 year old fibreglass TK1 and the other a new Hobie Fishing Kayak which would be the heavier of the 2. The Hobie is rather heavy to get up and down off the racks. We manage the TK1 easily I stand on a small ladder and the fisherman  is tall enough. But the Hobie is too heavy. We invested in a Rack'n'Roll system which does the job beautifully. Just google it and you should be able to get the details. Charlie can actually load and unload on his own ( while I watch with coffee in hand!)

Just a couple of tries and you will be loading and unloading with ease.

Hope the link comes through

http://www.roofracksgalore.com.au/rack%20and%20roll/rack%20and%20roll.html

cheers

We also have kayaks on the roof of the Prado.  Hubby has a Hobie revolution for fishing and I have an Ocean Venus 11.  We use the Rack and Roll system for putting them on the roof, makes them very manageable, an excellent system that works well for us especially as I have one arm that doesn't work real well so I'm more the supervising type also with coffee in one hand!  We wish you many happy kayaking times,  cheers   Capricorn

Wombat 280 wrote:

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Be careful roof racking Canoes and Yaks up side down, came across a rig on the side of the road where the roof rack parted company with the tug the wind got inside the package and lifted the lot off the tug into the van and down the road

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 You're right of course.

My kayak manufacturer recommends that the polyethelyne ones should be carried bottom up.

I have two very long straps that go over the top of the kayaks & thru the door openings to hold them down in case of 'lift off'.  I thread them thru the scupper holes as well.  With these, plus my normal tie downs onto the roof racks, as well as the front & rear ropes it seems a bit overdone, but I would hate to see my yaks go kartwheeling down the highway, or worse still spear into another vehicle or bystander.

ps. To stop the straps drumming or whistling in the wind, twist them tightly so that they have a cylindrical profile over their full length.

chaslib wrote:

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Unfortunately my fiberglass one has to be upside down on a carrier as we have a big problem if it rains and she fills with water. We also secure front and rear to the bull bar and tow bar and also through the doors.  Lift off has always been something that I worry about .... Touch wood, 15 years towing canoe trailers and roof racking craft, I have never had a problem.  When it comes to securing and tying down, we always live by one simple rule "who ever tows, ties and checks" and accepts responsibility if things go wrong. 

 

cheers

Libby

 

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 Good to hear that I'm not the only pedantic one when it comes to tying down.

You see a lot that are in reality just sitting there with token tie downs like bungy cords.

I think another area that is overlooked by drivers is the integrity of the ropes.  Generally no issues if using good quality tie down straps, but over the years i have seen lots of craft tied down with cheap and nasty ropes that fray, stretch and break in time due to weather, movement or just plain negligence. I dont think you can be over cautious because an accident can cause more than damage to property. I also pull up and check the ropes after a couple of klms and adjust if necessary. 

there is a lot more to canoeing than just hopping on or in one -  i have attended courses over over many years which included transportation .... That and safety concerns has stuck with me and been passed on to many kids over the years.

if you are pedantic, then that makes 2 of us!

Libby