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Surfski Car Rack?
rousseaujk@gmail.com Mar 2 #31114
Me again (Karina)
Any suggestions on car top racks to carry the new surfski would be helpful. We have a Subaru Outback that has rails and the cross racks that come with the car.
Reivers Dustin Mar 2 #31119
I suggest six foot long 2 X 6, just normal framing lumber. Bolt that to the factory cross racks (align with the long axis of the car). I guess U-bolts or similar from hardware store. (Trim so that you don't damage the boat with those bolts sticking out.)
Then bolt kayak cradle to that 2 x 6 at the ends so that cradles are at a good spread apart. I used Malone “Downloader”:
Amazon.com : Malone Downloader Folding J-Style Universal Car Rack Kayak Carrier with Bow and Stern Lines : Automotive Kayak Racks : Sports & Outdoors
It's ok to just put cradles on the factory bars, except then the spacing is too close and there's potential for boat damage when driving on the freeway (wind from big trailers can really torque the boat sideways).
rd
Tatum Nolan Mar 3 #31120
If you are looking for the simplest and cheapest entrypoint that has its limitations, you might consider these foam pads from REI that can fit directly on your existing rack. They are $40, plus a good pair of Thule straps. I haven’t put big freeway miles on mine, but they serve me well on my own trips around town.
Toby Cooper Mar 3 #31121
Isn’t that the same thing OPS has for about $34?
Dennis Mowry Mar 3 #31123
I have a pair of racks with mounts that will fit your car and cradles you can have. They even have locks so no one will steal they since they are so valuable.
:Dennis
Reivers Dustin Mar 3 #31124
Those foamies are great to have with all the paddling “junk-in-the-trunk”. That way if you do downwinder or something, there's a way to load up an extra boat. IMHO foamies should not be used by themselves, but rather used with another boat on top to prevent going sideways.
rd
Reivers Dustin Mar 3 #31125
Oh Yeah! I never use bow and stern tie-downs. I know some folks like them. But with that really long leverage they put tremendous bending force on the boat - even if there is very little tension. And of course as soon as the boat drifts sideways a little bit, the force vector is mostly downward bending and just a little bit sideways. Not a good plan with these long OC's and Surfskis. For touring kayaks, open canoes, no problem.
Dennis Mowry Mar 3 #31126
What is your opinion of these?
As far as bow and stern lines, Richard S, Maui Epic Dealer, uses a loop on the boat that ties to the hood hinges to keep them from swaying without downward pressure line the bowline would.
:D“
Duncan Howat Mar 3 #31127
I think Reivers 2×6's are a little weak. I'd go with 8×8 treated old railroad ties, with grade 5, at least, thru bolts thru the roof with 6x6x1/4 stainless steel plates inside the car, and top of the railroad ties. Then have Scoggins weld some 1/4in schedule 80 stainless pipe and create a Big V to put your boat in. Oh and don't forget to use those 4' wide yellow ratchet straps with 10,000 lb breaking capacity, (Hardware Sales) The thing is if you roll your car the boat will be OK, and that's the most important. On another note, many times I've driven past the suger cane factory on Maui on our way to Maliko in a old Subaru, with a flimsy top rack and just foamies, doing 60+, with a 45mph side wind and bumper to bumper traffic, and worked fine. Corse had fingers crossed, and several in the car wanted out. C ya on the road , not on the side of the road. .Flex boy
Reivers Dustin Mar 3 #31128
hehe, I remember finishing a downwinder at Locus Beach when it was Blowing so hard. My boat sitting on the rack was vibrating from the wind-shear. So mainly I got the cheapest crap structural stuff, but spent good bucks on the saddles so my boat rests comfy.
… you know: fugly system, but cushy seat pads. But I'm the guy who keeps his boat for decades and wears sweat pants to the fine dining.
David Hooper Mar 3 #31129
Big Wave Dave = Flex Boy = Hot Rod Duncan
https://open.spotify.com/track/5pV37i8VyJztxrEoVkTWTi?si=Rmc1c_KYS8e5JsRtl3mrQA&utm_source=copy-link
David Hooper Mar 3 #31130
or here if you don't have Spotify…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpK1ylZboyc
Commander Cody - Hot Rod Lincoln (Live At Rockpalast 1980) - RIP Commander Cody
REST IN PEACE COMMANDER CODY.Taken from the album “Live At Rockpalast 1980”: Order here: https://mig.lnk.to/commandercody Commander Cody already gained cult status with his band The Lost Planet Airmen by 1980 when he was invited to play the Rockpalast. His music wandered between the genres blues, country rock, boogie, rockabilly and texmex …
www.youtube.com
David Mar 4 #31132
I am trying out the Good Boy rack since my old factory roof rack bars are so close together. I have some concern about pressure where the tangent of the V touches the hull, but they seem very popular and was recommended by several ski vendors and local paddlers, esp. for closely-spaced roof bars like mine. I might pad up the contact area. If anyone has had issues with the V-rack from GoodBoy that you could share I would be grateful for the information. Karina, I can provide you with my own experience with it when I receive it soon.
Gavin Godfrey Mar 4 #31133
I am working on a solution to minimize wind drag/shift on the boat which involves slinging the boat under the car. Had it's pros and cons for sure.
Pros: Minimal windage
Cons: Need a car with 18” or more ground clearance, easy to trip over the boat when parked and walking around the car, need to avoid parking near curbs, maybe some others.
Duncan Howat Mar 4 #31134
Dave thanks for the Commander Cody video. I saw him and band in a small bar at lake Tahoe about 83. What a night that was. I think Gail danced on stage with him.
Paul Reavley Mar 4 #31135
Folks with super light weight boats like OCs, etc., advise tilting your boat at an angle in V-racks. I believe Nordic Kayaks now recommends this for their surfskis.
This is intended to relieve some of the potential stress from cross winds, but it seems to me to also increase the potential for more lift - so the advice of additional strapping is probably a good idea - and is a very good idea anyway for highway driving and driving in high wind areas such as in the Gorge. We have had several instances in the last couple of years of whole racks starting to detach from cars. Having extra straps over everything and through our car doors may have saved our boats coming back from the Gorge last year.
Paul
Tyler Irwin Mar 4 #31136
Since all ideas are being thrown out there, here's mine:
sell the subaru, buy a truck and get some sturdy truck bed racks.
In the end you'll probably spend more money, lose fuel efficiency and barely reach your ski… but you'll be able to mule around everybody's crap during a downwinder, AND your boat will be secure :)
Gavin Godfrey Mar 4 #31137
Good call Tyler. I owe you 2 beers. 1 for transporting my boat and 1 for the beer you gave me after transporting it.
Don't underestimate the power of a good industrial lubricant for reducing wind drag. I use Jetlube.
David Hooper Mar 4 #31141
That's awesome, Duncan. I've been a fan of CC & His LPA since junior high, but never saw them til 2000something at the Mt Baker Blues Festival in Deming. Not quite in their prime, but still fun.
Dan Mayhew Mar 5 #31143
When I bought my Good Boy racks the owner convinced me to get a wide v for the rear rack. It distributes the pressure on the boat more evenly and allows you to carry both skinny and fat boats. I went with the narrow on the front, but the owner said wide would be good there too. Side tip – I bought some glue-down felt from Amazon and put them on my pads. They've held well and eliminated the fingernails on a chalkboard squeaking. I am very happy with my rack, particularly in big winds.
