>I know that this is a total newbie question, but as my new kayak will be >here very shortly, it's important to me! Matt, This is not a newbie question at all. You see kayakers with all sorts of cars. Therefore, there is not a consensus for the ULTIMATE PADDLING MACHINE ... carrier. I went thru the same gyrations a few years ago when I took up kayaking. I bought my first used kayak, the "S.F. Minnow" (Seda Tango Double ~21.5'), with only a convertible to carry it with... Luckily I lived by the water and wheeled it ~3/4 mile to SF Bay and never took the kayak any distance on my car. Alas, I got tired of paddling the same place and looked for a new car. And i thought this kayaking habit might stick around. Into the used car lots I go. Sometimes a friend would go with me as I made this monumental decision. I went thru the standard choices, 4x4. truck, etc. The problem is lifting and clearance for the kayak on top of the car. During my mountain biking phase, I had many envious friends as I drove around in my spider with yakima racks on the trunk. I could drive under garages and gates and often did not off load. I was spoiled and looked for the same in a kayak car. My friends thought my brain was water logged as I stated my criteria for a kayak car: Raingutters, height, and roof line length. Then one day...there she was... the car of my wet dreams. In a used car lot I spotted an 80's style Volvo 740 wagon. It wasn't the make, model, color, or even the shape she was in that caught my eye. "Check out the raingutters on that car!" I blurted to my friend. My heart raced in anticipation as I imagined my Yakima cradles gently but firmly cupping the Minnow while mounted on my Volvo wagon. At ~9 ft separation of the bars, I can practically place my kayak on top and not even tie it down. ...Which I of course, unkowingly demonstrated once with my 20' Looksha II. I can drive into garages and leave my yak on top. Saves mucho time. I found out recently that a river kayak fits inside just fine. My car really smells like the ocean now. Of course, owning a wagon, and being an eligible male paddler, immediately set me up for much ridicule. I thought I might nip the jokes in the bud by placing on my car items such as: "baby on board" signs and "My child is an honor student at Emery HS" stickers. But the cost prevented me from doing such... Then, I moved to San Diego. My real estate agent thought my brain was water logged when I stated my criteria for a kayak house!.... That's another story... Live long and paddle, Albert Wang > > >At 03:07 AM 8/8/1999 -0700, Matthew Blumenthal wrote: >>I know that this is a total newbie question, but as my new kayak will be >>here very shortly, it's important to me! >> >>I have discovered that there are no roof racks made for my car. Thus I will >>have to buy another vehicle to transport the kayak. >> >>Pickups are cheap, but look as though they would require a ladder rack for >>kayaks. >> >>Suv's can accomodate a roof rack, but are rather pricey, and gas guzzelers >>to boot. >> >>Don't personally like vans. >> >>Any suggestions or comments on transportation vehicles and/or methods would >>be deeply appreciated. >> >> >> >> >> >>*********************************************** >>* Matthew Blumenthal * >>* Fremont CA * >>* Potter, Guitar Player, General Computer Nut * >>* mattb_at_ix.netcom.com * >>* http://www.mattegrafix.com * >>* ICQ 12691259 * >>*********************************************** >>************************************************************************** * >>PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >>Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >>Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >>Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ >>************************************************************************** * >> >> >Barbara Kossy Communications >PO Box 434 Moss Beach, California 94038 >tel. 650-728-8720 fax 650-728-8753 >bkossy_at_igc.org >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ >*************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Aug 10 1999 - 10:49:55 PDT
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