Date:         Fri, 19 Mar 2004 11:20:03 -0500
Reply-To:     Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Subject:      Raising poptop with kayak on roof
In-Reply-To:  <p05111b18bc808fa6fd24@[24.148.131.160]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Well, I've finally gotten my roof racks installed, figured out how to get my
kayak onto them, strapped it on, and found there's absolutely no way I can
raise the poptop when the kayak is up there.  The kayak won't fall off,
that's stable, but it's too heavy.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Here's the details:  They kayak is 19 feet long and weighs 48 pounds.  I
have it strapped on about as far back as it can reasonably go, so as to have
the weight at the bottom of the poptop.  It overhangs the back of the van
but not the front.  I am 5'3" tall and have very good upper body strength
for a woman (years of rowing crew, swimming, kayaking, and lifting weights).
With nothing on the roof it's a bit of a stretch for me to get the poptop
fully up and pull it down, but not a problem.

I can lift poptop and boat about a foot and a half.  I tried lifting it that
far and propping it up on a piece of wood, then getting directly beneath the
bar and seeing if I could push it straight up, but I can't, it's way too
heavy.

Suggestions, please!!!!  I really don't want to have to unload the boat
whenever I want to pop the top, that would be a major bore.  Besides,
storing the kayak on top of the roof is much safer than on the ground, and
having to reload it every time I lock the van and take off on my bike would
be even more of a nuisance.  And what's the point of having a poptop if I
just don't bother popping it?

Tomorrow I'm taking the van up to a friend's to finish battery installation.
He's very big and strong.  I'm going to see if he can do it.  If he can't
either, that will be useful info.

Help!!!!  Please!!!!  I have a vague recollection of hearing someone mention
hydraulics to help lift poptops - was that my imagination?




Joy

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Joy Hecht
and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon
and Henrietta, sad-eyed orangutan who waltzes with Matilda and me
and Bicycle and Kayak, who ride on Matilda
and my 2002 green Prius, waiting for our return from the vanadventures
For musings about life and the vanadventures:
http://users.rcn.com/jhecht/gypsy
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