Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 08:52:18 -0700
Reply-To: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Subject: Re: [WESTY] Canoe on poptop - too much weight?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
The problem with kayaks and canoes loaded on foam blocks, in my opinion, is
the method of securing the boat... I've never been able to think of any
strapping method that wouldn't allow the boat to slide a little... that can
cause abrasions to the fiberglass (grit will get between the foam and the
top) and it really would make me nervous to have 80 lbs. moving around up
there.
When it comes to the possibility of my boat lying in the middle of the road
(or through someone's windshield and in their lap for that matter), I would
opt to spend some more money and time to install a rack system like those
offered by Yakima or Thule. As I understand it, if you get the really really
tall Thule 'feet' they can be attached to the rain gutter and will clear the
fiberglass top... without fake rain gutter attachments that need to have
holes drilled into the side of the pop top. If these really really tall
Thule 'feet' are positioned just forward of the pop top and at the extreme
rear of the rain gutter, I have been told that the pop top can be raised
without removing the rack. My guess is that this will work great for a
canoe, but not for a kayak. Kayaks taper down so quickly at both ends that
the kayak saddles need to be closer together than the above method allows...
so with kayaks it seems there is a need to go with the fake rain gutters and
drill the sides of the pop top... . that's what I did for my kayak.
Good Luck,
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Todd Guttman" <tguttman@COLUMBUS.RR.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2000 5:16 AM
Subject: [WESTY] Canoe on poptop - too much weight?
> I'd like to ask the Westy members of the group if any of them strap their
> canoe(s) directly on the poptop. We've currently got a 17' Mad River
> Royalex canoe but the hull has a moderate rocker (curve). Thus, we can't
> directly put in on the roof with foam blocks.
>
> We're contemplating purchasing a new canoe with a straight hull - an Old
> towne Discovery Sport 13'. I'd like to toss it up on top using foam
blocks
> instead of messing with the racks. Is the 80 pound weight too much for
the
> poptop?
>
> Thanks for any advice/comments.
>
> Todd Guttman
> Columbus, Ohio
>
> 85 Westy Rivendell
>
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