Re: [Paddlewise] Yakima roof tracks, bow/stern lines, etc.

From: Steven W. Jarvis <sjarvis_at_dicksonstreet.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 08:49:19 -0500
Bhansen97_at_aol.com wrote:

> 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.

I recently (3 months) installed a Yakima Q Tower rack system on my little car
('93 Geo Prism sedan), and the paperwork/manual that came with my rack clearly
states the Yakima racks will carry up to 165 lbs. I had to put the Stretch Kit on
my car to get a good spread between the bars, especially for carrying long boats.
I've also heard that Yakima used to say their raingutter racks would carry 300
lbs., but "downgraded" their load capacity to match the Q Tower clip systems when
Yakima introduced them.

While we're on the subject of racks, I'd like to say how much I love my Yakima
Sweet Roll system. When the boat is cinched down (without bow and stern lines),
if you grab the stern of the boat and shake it (my boat's plastic, YMMV) you move
the entire car. It's rock solid.

Nonetheless, I still use bow and stern lines. Using ropes it takes me about 2
minutes to put bow and stern lines on my boat.  Being trained as a lawyer, I can
only imagine the sh!tstorm of a lawsuit that 16 feet and 60 lbs. of polyethelene
doing cartwheels down a crowded freeway at 75 MPH would create. Plus, It gives me
a chance to keep my knot tying in practice.

Cheers,

Steve

================================
Steven Jarvis
sjarvis_at_dicksonstreet.com
Fayetteville, Arkansas USA
================================

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Received on Thu Apr 22 1999 - 07:52:12 PDT

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