Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 09:52:00 MST
Reply-To: Sean Garrett <seangar@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Sean Garrett <seangar@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Kayak Transport on a Westy
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
I have transported whitewater kayaks for years and (welded my own racks too)
the main concern you should have is: Yours is NOT a whitewater kayak ( I
think) therefor it is wider in girth and more like a fat pig in the center.
If it is truly a sea kayak then this is not so. It would be skinny. If you
stack it like whitewater boaters you might NOT have the clearence you need
in the middle of the boat. That is, the cockpit of the boat might rub the
top of the van. Your towers on the racks would have to be tall to allow for
that clearence. Rack manufactures have made parts to accomodate this but I
have heard lots of whistling from racks that are like this. You want to keep
the boat as close to the van roof as possible to avoid vibration and noise
while in transit. I would suggest foaming it with fore and aft tiedowns to
the bumbers and straping it in the middle if possible till you can get a
good idea of the clearence issue.
>From: Douglas Demarest <Dldemarest@AOL.COM>
>Reply-To: Dldemarest@AOL.COM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Kayak Transport on a Westy
>Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 11:25:49 EST
>
>Hope this helps. I have lots of kayak carrying experience, but I have a
>vanagon and have only seen other people's westy's
>
> >The simple no cost solution would be to set my extra tall Thule uprights
> >and load bars up over the pop top and lash on the boat as above. Or I
> >could spring for the artificial rain gutters and bolt them to the pop top
> >and use my lower profile uprights that I used with this setup on my
> >former Westy. A little additional cost, a little additional angst in
> >drilling holes in the pop top, but as long as the boat would clear the
> >bikes in the rear, I could raise the pop top without dismounting boat or
> >rack.
>
>I think you'll need the rain gutter things to attach any tower, won't you?
>I
>don't think the westies have an attachment points. The kayakers I know
>with
>westies do what you mention: drill to attach the rain gutter things and
>then
>use the tall Thule towers with 68" bars.
>
> >- Are the luggage rack tie downs of sufficient strength to anchor a tie
> >down line from the bow of the boat?
>
>An important question is: how long is the kayak? Most whitewater kayaks
>can
>be carried very securely with no bow or stern tie-downs. Outdoor stores
>carry tie-down straps with buckles that are easy to use and very secure, or
>just use rope and a trucker's hitch. I only use bow lines when I'm
>stacking
>4 or 5 boats up top. A sea kayak (which would be as long as a canoe) would
>need bow and stern tie-downs, though.
>
> >- Can I use the foam blocks and just lash the boat to the roof?
>
>I don't think this will be very stable for a kayak.
>
> >- Oh yeah, the boat did not come with a paddle. Any buying tips
> >appreciated. Also are most paddles one piece, or are there some that
> >break down for transport, or are adjustable for different users?
>
>Break down paddles are common for sea kayaks and as spares for whitewater.
>If you're going to use it casually to cruise around a lake (and not flying
>off waterfalls ,etc.) it probably doesn't matter too much what kind you
>get.
>Usually, the cheaper the heavier
>
> >- Where do you carry your paddle in your fully loaded Westy?
>
>I just stick mine inside--i guess my van is never "fully loaded". You can
>easily just lash it to the Thule bars and carry it up top.
>
>
>Doug
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