Re: [Paddlewise] vehicle for sea kayakers

> In your opinion, what is the best all-around vehicle for sea kayakers.
>  I currently drive a ford escort hatchback and it suits me fine.  With
> very high miles, I will be car shopping later in the summer.  I just
> thought I'd get a discussion going about this.
> 
> Dave
> 

While I am happy with my mid-sized Japanese car, I am envious of my 
paddling buddy with his pick-up with cap when we come to setting up 
for longer trips. My car's trunk is smallish for two people and all 
the camping equipment, food and paddling gear. 

I can put my kayak on my roof by myself; but if there are two of us, 
there is little difference between lifting a boat onto my roof or 
onto his. Only a few inches higher.

Not that my friend can't load his kayak by himself; it's just a wee 
bit harder for him. Front end on a crossbar, then lift the back end 
into a pair of saddles. Finally, lift the front end into the saddles. 
Tying it down is also a bit more of a stretch. Helps if you're tall.

The pick-up does better on back roads than my "luxury" sedan. It also 
"looks" less appetizing to potential thieves.

Surprisingly, his pick-up gets better fuel mileage than my sedan with 
two kayaks on the highway. I get better mileage with no kayaks on 
top, so it would seem the extra drag of kayaks affects my car more 
than his truck.

If I was buying a vehicle ONLY for kayaking, I'd vote for a small 
pick-up. But you do have to consider the other uses it is going to be 
put to -- or at least most of us do.

HTH,
-- 
  Darryl
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************