There's two ways to approach this. The full on way is to buy a Honda CRV either the new model or the pre 2003 model. Either of these vehicles easily outperforms anything from Sub-u-raw-raw. The newer model eats Suburus and five cylinder Volvos for breakfast. On a recent trip up island I set the cruise control and watch the Volvo and Subura disappear behind me. They lacked the power to sustain speed over the hills. There's more space, room for full size 6 foot adults in the back seat of a CRV. You can carry four kayakers and all their gear for a week long trip. Ok I only brought back two of the four boats.* With boats on top you're still under height for ferries. If you live in the USA you can buy a two wheel drive CRV that gets even better gas mileage and should last for a zillion and a half miles compared to the all wheel drive version that will wear out after only a zillion miles. You get great gas mileage, don't have to pay the expensive Suburot mechanics fees when it breaks down, plus no one has to push when you go up a hill. Oh and with the money you save when you buy a new Honda instead of the Sub-u-are - you'll be able to buy two new boats to put on the top of your Honda. The less then full on way is to buy a beater. Something like a Dodge K car. You can treat it with absolute destain and feel good about both it and yourself. Throw wet neoprene booties in the back seat and never take them out. Wow, you'll be so high when you get to the put in you'll want to straight to the munchies. *While paddling in the Deer Group (a top secret paddling destination just south of the Broken Group) last year some low life stole my friends 12 year old Nissan truck leaving us one vehicle short for the return trip. I got all the gear for four people and two boats in and on my CRV. All the gear went either behind the seat or in the cock pit of the boats. No one was cramped or had to sit with bags of gear around their feet and on their laps. I've seen that in Foresters. A friend from Bamfield, with a roof rack, was going to a wedding in Victoria and took the two extra boats otherwise we would have put all four boats on edge and racked them on top of the CRV. If you've stayed with me this far you deserve a Vancouver Island tip. If you've got anything, other then a full size truck, and one of those boats with lots of rocker and you want to beat the over height charge - put the kayak on upside down. Once on the ferry, if you are on the truck deck, flip it over. Even if you are not on the truck deck you may be able to flip the boat. Take a tape measure and check first if in doubt. No one has ever been able to explain to me why we have to pay over height fees on the gulf island ferries that have no upper decks and are open to mother nature. Gordin Warner Victoria BC I don't own Honda stock, or a dealership, but there are two Honda's in the driveway. I have owned three VW's, a 356 Porshce that broke the bank, and an MGA. I didn't own the MGA long enough to really come to hate it and in moments of weakness think of buying another. I know. It's a sickness. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> Gordin Warner > Victoria BC > I don't own Honda stock, or a dealership, but there are two Honda's in > the driveway. I have owned three VW's, a 356 Porshce that broke the > bank, and an MGA. I didn't own the MGA long enough to really come to > hate it and in moments of weakness think of buying another. I know. > It's a sickness. I owned several old MGs: an MGA and a couple of MGBs. I also had a TR- 2, -3, 4A & 5. And a Spitfire. (What a piece of junk THAT was!) I had a 944 for a while, but I traded it in on a house when I got married. Not enough room for a bedroom set in the back of the Porsche. I was born in BC, and my sister still lives in Victoria. Do you think that this sickness is a BC thing? Would it re-appear if I moved back there? Scary thought! -- 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/ ***************************************************************************
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