[Paddlewise] Thank you all--ski rack and knife

1) Thanks for all the suggestions regarding a ski rack that will fit on
any of the several dozen models of cars I am likely to rent.  I went out
looking tonight on Route 17 in New Jersey at several ski shops and
decided on the window mount kind mentioned by David Seng among others. 
It looks like it will work and is a no brainer and will fit any car.

I was warned at one shop, which does not sell this type, that one might
accidentally send the skiis flying if you hit the power window button. 
I am not sure that is true as the suction cup will likely stop the
action as it is quite powerful.  Anyway just have be careful about the
power windows and perhaps disable them at the master driver's side
buttons.  Anyway most of the rentals I get have roll down windows, i.e.
cheap.

I was intrigued by the magnetic rooftop ski racks mentioned by several
people and which I finally found on a web site.  Couple of questions. 
Would I trust a magnet that I could place and pull off or is the magnet
setup too powerful to easily detach when you want to.

Meanwhile I have two perfectly good sets of ski racks from earlier, one
to attach to factory roof racks; the other to rain gutters.  Both from
Barrecrafters.  The company now sells a variety of this type but with
different hooks for different cars.  I get the impression that basically
two hook styles (provided with the rack) fit most cars.  I guess I
should look into whether Barrecrafter has a cheap way to adapt the hooks
to the old style steel band and roof gutter hook.  But I am at least now
set in case it snows (Bob Denton and Sandy Kramer, that is white stuff
that resembles Ivory Soap Flakes which you probably don't see anymore
anyway).

2) Again along Route 17, I stopped at Campmor and got a Gerber River
Shorty for around $26 (with my hiking club discount).  I am basing my
trust in it on what several individuals have indicated, and, if it does
start to slip out regularly, use the Bob Denton duct tape gasket idea. 
Incidentally the showcase sample really snapped in tight with an audible
impressive click.  When the clerk got out a box with a new one in it, it
did not have that positive click or locked feeling.  So, I took the
showcase sample.  I suspect that individual Shorty's vary in how well
they will hold in their sheath at least initially.

I noticed that about a half inch of blade on the serrated side and
toward the squared off point may have a slight edge on it.  I have to
see it in better light and try cutting with it.  If there is any edge at
all I will file it down to avoid even a minute chance of getting sliced.

Again thanks for all the help and a thanks to Route 17 and Campmor et al
too. :-)

ralph diaz
-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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