[Paddlewise] Yakima roof tracks

Hi Chris - I was surprised to learn that Yakima flatly states that their 
racks will not safely carry boats longer than 12-14 feet, or loads more than 
50 lbs. (Those numbers are not exact - I'm working from memory here - but 
anyway, lengths and loads way below what I need to carry with safety.

As I read about people with rusty rain gutters pulling out, pressure clips 
working loose from window or door-edge sites, I wonder how many flying kayaks 
are due to that sort of thing. The arrangement I have will never 
(accidentally) come off the roof, no matter what. That gives me some peace of 
mind.

Yakima makes a really nice and really tough set of tracks for the roof of 
various vehicles (small cars, big cars, vans, trucks, etc...) which they 
warrant will support the boat lengths and weights I  carry. I regret to say 
that I've forgotten the name of the package, but I'm sure Yakima will be glad 
to tell you. It includes all the bolts, sealer, etc one would need, and even 
a drill bit of just the right size. 

Directions for installation are specific for each make and model of vehicle. 
For many vehicles the track will need to be trimmed. (For clods like me, that 
means using the universal rule: THINK once, think twice, think again. Then 
measure once, twice, three times. Then cut.) Same for the drilling - though 
with the drilling, I guess you could just fill in a hole if you made one in 
the wrong place.

I'm not an especially handy guy with tools. But the directions were clear and 
the tracks went into place without any hitch at all. The drill bit supplied 
lasted just exactly long enough to drill all the necessary holes before 
becoming so dull it was useless. Nice obsolescence there.

In addition to the tracks you will "towers" which fit onto the tracks, and 
are removable, as well as the crossbars. Once the towers are removed, the 
tracks add almost nothing to the vehicle's profile or and wind resistence, 
but I leave the whole setup in place year round, since I paddle almost year 
round.

There are cheaper packages around, of course. But sometimes I spend a little 
more up front, for safety's sake. To me, it seems to be very inexpensive 
insurance.

Happy hunting - Bill Hansen
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