Anyone use a roof rack for kayaks?

[JCave]

Don't forget your aquatic species tag. They're six bucks, purchased on-line.

Where ya' bound in these sea faring craft? We were on Lost Lake last Thursday, before the rush. It was great.

[Riverwolf]

Originally Posted by JCave

Don't forget your aquatic species tag. They're six bucks, purchased on-line.

Where ya' bound in these sea faring craft? We were on Lost Lake last Thursday, before the rush. It was great.

Is that the same as what they call the invasive species tag?
Anyway we got those today.
Mostly the kayaks are for large ponds and small lakes.
We live basically on Fern Ridge.
We also like floating the lazy stretches of the Willamette.
Rivers right now are scary with the number of trees that went down in the storms.

[JCave]

Originally Posted by Riverwolf

Is that the same as what they call the invasive species tag?
We live basically on Fern Ridge.
We also like floating the lazy stretches of the Willamette.
Rivers right now are scary with the number of trees that went down in the storms.

You purchased the correct tag. Surprisingly, I'm not familiar with Fern Ridge. Those rivers are always nasty for submerged logs but kayaks should do just fine. You might also enjoy the Tualatin River.

Have fun, be safe.

jerry

[markd]

I use a stacker on Thule bars. This way I can carry 4 boats. We love to do stretches of our local rivers. We have many friends we have talked into kayaking so it’s not unusual to have 6 or 8 come along. You have to able to drop a car at the bottom of the section. If you can only carry two boats then you can’t drop a car

[Riverwolf]

Originally Posted by markd

I use a stacker on Thule bars. This way I can carry 4 boats. We love to do stretches of our local rivers. We have many friends we have talked into kayaking so it’s not unusual to have 6 or 8 come along. You have to able to drop a car at the bottom of the section. If you can only carry two boats then you can’t drop a car

exactly why we need suggestions on car and truck ideas!

[SpiderTrap]

My 30 something neighbor attatches a 12 foot Kayak to top of Ford Explorer every few weeks and goes to Tampa From Clermont, about 60 miles.
I've tried to help him , but he doesnt want any help . I told him he could get a possible hernia as Kayak is fairly heavy , but he seems to know everything .... so I say Have a nice day ...He used to use a one the side of kayak verticle stand but changed to a V horizontal same as kayak would sit in water .

[dhalbert]

This is more what not to do, but it's one more experience:

We have rented a double kayak while on vacation a few times, and just put them on a rental car with foam blocks underneath, supplied by the rental place. The kayak end straps tied under the car on either end, and there are also straps that go through the open windows and connect on the other side. I have only drive ten miles or less with this arrangement.

With one rental car, the weight depressed the sheet metal of the roof slightly. Fortunately it was not permanent. I added more foam blocks the next time to spread out the weight. It was kind of a nuisance, and getting the kayak on and off the car was a bit arduous.

We have a 1990's Yakima system we used for bikes and a roof carrier at that time. Then they revised the whole thing and I would have had to to buy expensive new "towers" that attached to the car because there were no suitable adapter plates for our newer cars. I have never bothered.

[The Bard Rocks]

I've done it for years, both kayaks and canoes. On kayaks, keep them upright (ie - as you'd sit in the water). Putting them upside down can damage the top as many tops are much lighter-built than the bottoms and the sun's heat and polyethelene can do some unpleasant things when combined.

[Riverwolf]

Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks

I've done it for years, both kayaks and canoes. On kayaks, keep them upright (ie - as you'd sit in the water). Putting them upside down can damage the top as many tops are much lighter-built than the bottoms and the sun's heat and polyethelene can do some unpleasant things when combined.

Now that is interesting advice

[Jim W]

When it all started with our Saturn:


For the Saturn, I made some stainless tie points:



On our Subie that's gone now:



Stern lines:


I eventually bought an eyebolt for the hitch Ball Mount, and attached the stern lines to it with a threaded quick link:



On our Flex now (this doesn't show the bow lines and stern lines)

[JCave]

Originally Posted by Riverwolf

Now that is interesting advice

We were told the same last spring when we bought my wife's Eddyline. It's been on her Subaru one time with Thule. I have a drift-boat so I mount the Thule in it and carry on.