Re: [Paddlewise] Nifty roof rack for my Hyundai Accent 2-door

Joe Brzoza wrote:
> 
> (PS - I'm also glad to read not everyone in PW land is driving an Audi or
> Lexus)

Well, me too.  As I mentioned earlier, I no longer own a vehicle but now
rent. My rentals are nice and cheap and involve several models of
Hyundai's, which are just fine for my purposes.

I use portable roof pads because I think the rental company might frown
on my drilling holes in the roofs of their cars.  Besides, it would be a
drag to constantly be drilling holes in each individual car that I
rent.  The prospect of such might actually sway me into knocking down my
kayaks into their foldable mode.

While considering all the adaptations that must be made to install a
permanent or semi-permanent rack for kayaks, one might think in terms of
the portable pad setup that I use.  It takes just a few minutes longer
to use. And if it is your own car (and not the variety of cars I face in
rental fleets) you could knock down the time to about what it would be to
put a kayak on a permanent or semi-permanent rack as you would know
where to hook the bumper tie downs (in my case of rentals, each model
requires my probing around each time to find points to which to connect
hooks or carabiners, etc.), what width to set the pads at, etc..

So do consider the portable pads as an option even for your own car, and
even if it is a Lexus.  As mentioned, one of my readers has two Lexuses
(or is the plural, Lexi?) and uses a portable pad system that is not
even a specialized one but rather centered on garden kneeling pads.  If
he is willing to use these on his pride and joy, they must work not
only as good kayak carriers but also will not mar the roofs' finish.

But, of course, if you want to blow $300 or more on a sophisticated Thule
or Yakima setup instead of spending the difference (the pads run around $40
including all straps) on better things such as lighter paddles, and have
the permanent setup eating into your gas mileage when not sporting kayaks,
 be my guest.

ralph :-)
-- 
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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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