For our canoe, I made racks out of 2x4's that placed the load on the roof, but were held in place by the existing racks that were clearly too weak to support the canoe. Cheap, and easy to modify when you replace your car.
Harry0 wrote:
AH! Inflatables!
There will always be somebody who gets the idea of using the vehicle exhaust.
I don't really know what causes the chemical reactions.
But you may have a few hours before `.
Funny. A few years ago, you could buy an inflatable car jack powered by the car's exhaust. It was a large rubber bag. I'm not sure how the engine would like that, but it beats blowing it up with your mouth.
As for "the seams start giving way," that's why you wear a life jacket.
jcave wrote:
Jerry, after years of paddling and hoisting kayaks onto rooftop racks I sprung for the Thule Hullavator which has made a huge difference on my shoulders as well as in strapping the kayaks in place. This rack is unique in that it will lift and lock a kayak in place with no more effort than one finger. While expensive, over the years it has paid for itself many times over and retains its resale value. Happy paddling.
Yes, someone here mentioned that. If I invest in an expensive roof rack system, the Hullavator might come the following year.
jerryc41 wrote:
This will be going on a 2015 Honda Fit. The kayak will probably be a Wilderness Aspire 105. I want to keep the price under $3,000.
There aren't a lot of kayaks actually choices available, at least nothing I'd consider buying. Just because the dealer shows them on his website, that doesn't mean they have them. "Oh, that should have been removed." I found the same thing with car dealers. They show a dozen cars on their lot, but when you ask about it, "Oh, we don't have that anymore."
Although a longer kayak would be great on the water, paying for it and hauling it back and forth would be more of a challenge. I'm aiming for small lakes and ponds. I've been talking to local people, and there are a lot of nice, calm places near me. As for safety, I'm 76. How many more years can I expect? I'm going to live dangerously and go kayaking on small ponds!
This will be going on a 2015 Honda Fit. The kayak... (
show quote)
As long as you are spending, why not buy a truck
rehess
Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA
jerryc41 wrote:
Funny. A few years ago, you could buy an inflatable car jack powered by the car's exhaust. It was a large rubber bag. I'm not sure how the engine would like that, but it beats blowing it up with your mouth.
but getting the battery to do the work is even less work.
Pretty color, but If I had one, I'd want the highest visibility color possible. Bright orange or something. Recent headlines in the local paper (boat vs kayak) explain why.
jerryc41 wrote:
Funny. A few years ago, you could buy an inflatable car jack powered by the car's exhaust. It was a large rubber bag. I'm not sure how the engine would like that, but it beats blowing it up with your mouth.
I have that jack, but I never used it and it is taking up space on a shelf in my basement. Another useless gadget I bought straps to a wheel with a flat tire. It has its own wheels and supposedly allows you to drive 40mph until you reach a repair facility. I never used that either and it, too, is taking up room. I think I got the idea for these things from reading Popular Mechanics. I'm a sucker for gadgets.
jerryc41 wrote:
This will be going on a 2015 Honda Fit. The kayak will probably be a Wilderness Aspire 105. I want to keep the price under $3,000.
There aren't a lot of kayaks actually choices available, at least nothing I'd consider buying. Just because the dealer shows them on his website, that doesn't mean they have them. "Oh, that should have been removed." I found the same thing with car dealers. They show a dozen cars on their lot, but when you ask about it, "Oh, we don't have that anymore."
Although a longer kayak would be great on the water, paying for it and hauling it back and forth would be more of a challenge. I'm aiming for small lakes and ponds. I've been talking to local people, and there are a lot of nice, calm places near me. As for safety, I'm 76. How many more years can I expect? I'm going to live dangerously and go kayaking on small ponds!
This will be going on a 2015 Honda Fit. The kayak... (
show quote)
I like the Hobie kayaks(where are you going to ues? calm lakes, rivers open bat-salt water?). Any way , a dedicated rack is best but, you most likely can just turn it upside down & strap it to the rack if you had to.
cmc4214 wrote:
As long as you are spending, why not buy a truck
Right now I transport my 86" long recumbent trike in a Honda minivan with the rear seat removed. But three or four years from now I'll buy a Cybertruck and use that to transport the trike and also to haul cuttings to the local mulch site.
rehess
Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA
stu352 wrote:
Pretty color, but If I had one, I'd want the highest visibility color possible. Bright orange or something. Recent headlines in the local paper (boat vs kayak) explain why.
Cropped from a picture of a family outing is the inflatable "kayak" we had at one time.
There are inexpensive foam pads that you can put under your kayak that don't need anything to hold them in place. Just tie down the kayak and you are good to go. Probably best for smaller kayaks. I have a Walden Paddler, which is only about 10 feet long and weighs 34 lbs - I can hold it with one hand, and I'm over 80. It has no rudder but tracks very straight. Not for white water or exposed seas, but for ponds, rivers and sheltered bays or inlets it's lovely.
Looking forward to the video of your first "Eskimo Roll"!!!!
Just remember you don't have to back in the lake to launch the kayak. They only do that with a boat on a trailer.
Jerry, from experience, I would say first tend to your cardio, upper body and legs. TIt will make the whole experience more pleasurable.
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.