Re: [Paddlewise] Portable Racks

I like to add some comments to what Sandy Kramer discusses below and
also to followup on comments by Joan Spinner and Dave Gutierrez.

1.  Those inflatable pads from Target would worry me based strictly on
the question of reliabliity of anything inflatable under lots of
pressure.  While the payload seems OK at 80 kg, that is just laying
downt the weight on the inflatable pad.  You really are going to add
more pressure in tying the boat down on to the inflatable pad. 
Regardless, if the the inflatable pad fails, you are in trouble.

2.  The foam pads found in all sorts of forms from all sorts of sources
work well.  I have used them.  The problems I see (really more nuisances
and pains in the butt) are:

a) The straps need to come through the car doors.  In several cars that
I have used the setup on, the straps come through in awkward places.  In
some instances the strap has been at forehead level, risking a scalping
in a sudden stop let alone a traffic accident.

b) You must triangulate bow and stern tieoffs to your bumpers.  I once
tried using just a single bow to front bumper and single stern to rear
bumper tiedown and the boat shifted incredibly quickly in a very short
distance.  No matter how much I pulled down these front and rear bumper
tiedowns the boat continued to shift.  Only when I went back to the
triangle on front and back (i.e. a teepee strap arrangement with two
points of contact on each bumper) did the shifting stop.  The accessory
tiedowns sold by companies like Voyaguer specifically state you need to
triangulate in a very specific manner described in instructions coming
with the package.

Another point regarding the pads, there is that great variety I
mentioned. Opt for the wider ones if you can.  Campmor has them as well
as the shorter variety.  This gives you more roof surface hold to
minimize slipping.  Also, the slot underneath varies in size among
manufacturers. Some such foam pads have slots that work perfectly with
ordinary roofracks such as Thules and factory installed roof racks.  So
hunt around if you have several places around you to source them from.

Also, an alternate are the garden kneeling pads sold in places like Home
Depot and Brookstone.  I think I mentioned the reader who uses these
quite successfully in carrying two K-Lights at freeway speeds in
California.  He uses them on his Lexus and, with that kind of car, is
certainly more conscious of scratches than one would be in an old
clunker.  The kneeling pads have lots of grip on the roof's surface,
keep the boat(s) closer to the roof for less wind lift forces underneath
and can be used for sitting if you want.

3.  Still consider getting some regular steel bar racks that can go from
car to car when I rent.  I have the Barrecrafters as I mentioned.  They
go on incredibly easy with no tools and the standard hook that comes
with them fits quite a few cars.  I purchased a few extra styles of
hooks that cover most of the rest of models around.  The bars are not
all that portable (i.e. you couldn't bring them with you in air travel
like you could the foam blocks for use on rental cars).  But if you are
renting from near home they do work well and are quite a bit more secure
than the foam blocks or the inflatable ones, I would imagine.

I also have the foam blocks when I run into a car that my Barrecraft
hooks won't fit and provide a fallback to the steel bar rack.

ralph diaz

Gypsykayak_at_aol.com wrote:
> 
> A while back Ralph Diaz mentioned racks he used on rental cars.
> 
> Wyoming River Raiders  (riverraiders.com) has something that looks like those
> noodles with straps running through them.  The straps go under the
> roof/through the windows. $50
> 
> I got something call the HandiRack (Part #DO10462)  from Target for $60.
> It's a pair of inflatable racks (tough laminated nylon) that "fits all cars"
> and "conforms to ISO standard."  Award-winning design!

-- 
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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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