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

Joe Brzoza wrote:
> 
> Ralph Wrote:
> 
> >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 :-)
> 
> Yeah Ralph, but will the pads let you carry bikes, ladders, skis,
> snowboards, mattresses, etc?  I see it as a cheap alternative to buying (and
> driving) a truck.  But I agree that if you're only into kayaking your way is
> the cheaper way.

Yes, it looks like it will only work for a kayak but perhaps it could be
used for some of the other things you mentioned.  For example a ladder
could easily by put up on a roof using the canoe pads which fit on to
the canoe's gunwales and the canoe is then mounted upside down...no
reason why could not be adapted to a ladder (cost is about $12 for the
canoe pads).  Snowboards could be attached to the window ski racks
mentioned earlier at a cost of around $40 (there is a for skis and
another one for snowboards).  It may be possible to put skis on the
kayak pads, although I have not tried this.  But with the window racks I
don't see a need for this.

Trouble is limitation in how many boats you can carry.  You can't stack
em on their sides and therefore it looks like a small car could carry
just two at best.  With roof rack bars you have a wider expanse for
putting on the boats side by side.

> 
> So do you ever have to lock your kayak to the rental car?  You must run a
> cable through the windows?

I have not bothered as my use has been from point A to point B with
immediate removal of the boat for kayaking or to a location behind a
gate.  I have the Surelock from Boulter of Earth in my kit (I got a
small mesh bag from Campmor and loaded it with the pads, all assortments
of straps collected over the years, hooks and carabiners as well as the
Surelock).  If I were to stop somewhere enroute, I would run the
Surelock cable through a few crossribs on the foldable kayak and then
down into the car via a door.  The Surelock has a slider on the cable
portion that comes into the car.  You slide it until it is snug against
the inside of the door frame...it's a one way slider and so can't be
jarred loose.

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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