[Paddlewise] rackets / Lines / general problems

Jo, I got some experiences with rackets, too.

We got a Thule racket for our VW Passat. A strong system with claws special
designed for this roof. There are little triangulars behind the upper sides
of the claws. They hold the claws outside the basic foot so the claws fits
the car roof flat and 100 per cent.
Some time ago we lost one of these triangulars and it seems to be no
problem. But normally I secure all boats by a front line to cars recovery
claw.
About 2 weeks ago I place one heavy Aleut Sea II, an old foldable double and
a heavy K1 on the racket, so it was "full", don´t ask for the weight...

This time I hadn´t towed a front line and after 2 miles something was
scratching on the roof. What had happened?
No front line, the boats bob up and down and because of the missing
triangular (front racket) the claw flips away from the roof! Oh oh!
I refit the claw but then I saw the problem. Without that triangular the
claw couldn´t be flat to the roof. I ´ve had to find a new triangular! 60s
thinking, then I take some tape and a little peace of close cell  foam,
press it and put tape around, press it behind the claw and fit it. Ready!
The foam function as this little unconspicuous triangular.


2nd incident happened about 7 years ago. The car from a club member got an
integrated deck rail (for rackets) and there have been 2 K1 on the racket.
After half an hour the boats began to wave up and down. We stop, the front
racket sprang out the rail because the rail was damaged. I was lucky,
because I had fixed a front line down to the car. But we could do what we
want, without special tools we couldn´t repair the deck rail. So I take a
long webbing rope, put around the racket on each side and close it INSIDE
the car, ready. No the racket was bombproof, but we had to pay attention to
our heads because of the webbing rope running through the car above our
heads.


These and other incidents are the reason I always got more "unneeded"
material with me, than other people. If something happens, I got a solution.

I remember this remarkable day when we were on a 2 week paddling trip from
school in Austria and Slowenia. My teacher had damaged his thumpkin nail and
ask for "a little piece of tape". I open my waterproof barrel, and grap down
to the ground and ask him "Which colour?" ...
You must have seen his face!
Anytime, if someone needs something their first way is me.  Otherwise I
always got the heaviest boats and bags.

>Best way to avoid problems is to shock the potential problem with a
solution, so the problem looks for another victim.< :-))))


whish you all the best
Jochen
----- Original Message -----
From: <JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com>
To: <ellis_at_magnus.net>; <PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 4:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Trailers / Bow Lines


> In a message dated 4/16/2001 8:34:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> ellis_at_magnus.net writes:
>
>
> > I carry a 21' tandem on a Hyunday Elantra with no bow or stern lines
> > with not concerns for it coming off at Interstate speeds.  How-
> >
> > 1)  The Elantra is a wagon, with factory side rails, to which to clamp
> > the Thule system.  I bet the whole shebang that flew off that one car
> > was a door frame clamp on model.
> >
>
> And I bet the guy who designed the little clips that hold your factory
rack
> to your Hyundai did so with the full and clear understanding that you were
> going to put the Queen Mary on your roof, Ellis.
>
> Yak and Thule make some really great rigs for factory racks, and the fit
is
> solid on most factory racks.  Problem is, a lot of factory racks are
pretty
> low-tech on installation hardware.  Don't know that I'd ever want to trust
a
> rack on a Hyundai --- or on a Mercedes or an Audi ---  without tiedowns.
>
> Jack Martin
>
>
>
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