Re: [Paddlewise] Car Racks and Paint Damage

At 10:23 AM 10/24/02 -0500, Patrick Maun wrote:
>Hey everyone,
>
>since returning to the US I have neglected to get a car. I have been using 
>my girlfriends car which does not have a rack. I would like to be able to 
>use my Yakima Q-Tower rack on her car but have worried about scratching 
>and otherwise damaging it. I ask as my cars have always tended to look 
>like hell. I have always left racks on for years and  have no idea if they 
>do damage or not, and if so, what can be done to mitigate the damage.

I get more scratches on the car from taking boats on and off than I do from 
the rack mounts. Put a good coat of wax on the paint before you put the 
Q-Towers on and again when you take them off and there shouldn't be much 
effect.

>She drives one of those fancy new Beetles, if anyone has any tips for 
>car-topping a boat on one of these let me know.

Yes, be sure to take a picture. Long straight boat on short round car. You 
should get smiles (or at least incredulous stares) everywhere you go. 
Actually, your biggest problem may be getting adequate rack spacing. You 
only have one door to work with.


Steve Cramer
Athens, GA

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