Re: [Paddlewise] Subj: Cradles/rollers for EuroVan racks?

In a message dated 8/7/00 12:30:54 PM, FoldingBoats_at_aol.com writes:

<< I do run lines port and starboard from the bow back to the front and rear 
racks as preventer stays just in case of any potential need for drastic 
braking. >> he was mentioning factory racks over the installed Yak or Thule 
racks.

This is an idea I can live with. I used the bow and stern lines for a bit but 
got so nervous about the results of a light bumper tap that I took them off. 
I can't use them on the red boat because it is too short to clear the paint 
job on the hood. This gives me the safety of the lines, without the need of a 
new boat or paint job.
    I have factory racks and Yak racks on the factory thingys. I can attach 
the lines to the factory racks if I have any concern for the racks, as a 
whole, which I don't. I simply can't visualize loosing 2 boats and the racks 
and the rollers/cradles in one motion.
    I would think that I'd see/hear/feel something if the 150 pounds of 
plastic, fiberglass and metal was attempting a divorce from the Jeep.
    One of the women I paddled with yesterday was asking about how often I 
changed out the straps on the racks. I really have not given a lot of thought 
to the idea that the buckle itself could give out. I tie the ends of the 
straps rather well as a backup to the straps. I have to replace the Yak 
straps I got with the roller/saddle set. Two summer seasons is a reasonable 
life to my purse. They are faded and a bit knocked about.
    Oh, thinking of that, Woody mentioned that he was thinking of turning the 
wing nuts on his cradles around. As I was putting a new bar on my truck I 
took a few minutes to turn the bolts/nuts around. They had been catching the 
straps and a lot of the wear and tear was from the straps being in contact 
with the nuts and bolts. It was not too big a problem to adjust the eight of 
the saddles with the nuts to the inside. It looks a lot better and I expect 
substantially fewer broken finger nails and barked up fingers while strapping 
the boats on.

Joan Spinner
Paddling the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Yellow/white CD Gulfstream
Red CD Breeze
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