Re: [Paddlewise] Roof Racks

At 12:44 PM 11/25/98 -0500, JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com wrote:
 >True, Bob.  But are you happy with the support you get on the hull with the
>rollers locked?  Seems like it's just four areas in contact with the hull per
>bar, each not more than one quarter of an inch by maybe three and a half
>inches?  The TLCs have two pads per bar, each about eight by three inches.
>Just seems like a better distribution of pressure.
>

Jack makes a good point here that demonstrates one of the short comings of
the hully rollers.  When I tie down my wife's tupperware Sealution, it's
always a balance between getting the straps snug enough and having the
rollers push into the hull a ways.  To make matters worse, in time there is
some creep (in the hull I'm sure) and the straps loosen because the hull
deforms some more.  This is not so much of an issue on the saddles because
you still have a lot of surface area and the rubber face helps you retain
that "secure" feeling.

Of course the (Yakima) saddles aren't perfect either.  You really have to
work at getting the shape to conform to your individual boat and, then of
course, have to mount the boat in pretty much the same location each time.
I've found I only get partial contact with the saddles no matter how much
fiddling I do.  And, if you're hauling a buddy's boat, there's a need to
change adjustments, but that's a pain in the ass so I don't often do it.
That's why I say the Thule saddles look much better.  They conform
automatically to the hull.

Just my 2 cents.

Bill Leonhardt
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************