Bicycles on Roof Rack?

[Remedy2]

Has anyone mounted their bikes on a roof rack? I was thinking about getting a rack that fork mounts the bike but I'm concerned the side-to-side motion of a boat will stress the wheels and forks. This is what I'm looking at:
https://www.etrailer.com/Roof-Bike-Rack ... Y1270.html

I have a C-24->> the easy way is to strap them to the rail on the bow but curious if anyone has done this and/or has pics.

 

[BradOwens]

The slow roll of a boat, even at full speed would put less lateral stress on the forks than a car or SUV cornering at 20-30 mph. Lots of boaters carry bikes that way.

 

[Remedy2]

The slow roll of a boat, even at full speed would put less lateral stress on the forks than a car or SUV cornering at 20-30 mph. Lots of boaters carry bikes that way.

Thanks Brad- kinda my feeling as well but, oddly, I haven't seen any yet.

 

[Robvic]

We use the Yakima highroad: https://www.yakima.com/ca/highroad. We've put mountain bikes and road bikes on top with no problems. With our R-31, the cross bar have a long span, so I installed supports in the middle of the roof to eliminate the flex. Salt spray is more of a concern than lateral stress on the wheels.
Rob

 

[Remedy2]

We use the Yakima highroad: https://www.yakima.com/ca/highroad. We've put mountain bikes and road bikes on top with no problems. With our R-31, the cross bar have a long span, so I installed supports in the middle of the roof to eliminate the flex. Salt spray is more of a concern than lateral stress on the wheels.
Rob

Thanks Rob. Totally agree-- Salt spray on bike components are no bueno. First thing I wash down when docking is the bikes!

 

[Navigator's Son]

I've tried it, and since have 100% abandoned the entire endeavor.

I have a R25 with the luggage rack. I bought the bike support bar that keeps the front tire on it, almost exactly like the bar you showed, expect it had the arm that rises to hold the bike at the frame.

From a stress perspective, absolutely nothing to worry about. But no matter what I did, other than try to constantly spray the bike down with vaseline, anything that can, will rust.

I even bought a nice bicycle cover. It didn't matter. the salt water/air/spray got into everything. The chain, the gears, brakes, anything that wasn't covered by paint rusted.

If you are going to use a bike on the boat, the rack system is not what you are going to have to worry about. Protecting the bike is.

 

[Remedy2]

I've tried it, and since have 100% abandoned the entire endeavor.

I have a R25 with the luggage rack. I bought the bike support bar that keeps the front tire on it, almost exactly like the bar you showed, expect it had the arm that rises to hold the bike at the frame.

From a stress perspective, absolutely nothing to worry about. But no matter what I did, other than try to constantly spray the bike down with vaseline, anything that can, will rust.

I even bought a nice bicycle cover. It didn't matter. the salt water/air/spray got into everything. The chain, the gears, brakes, anything that wasn't covered by paint rusted.

If you are going to use a bike on the boat, the rack system is not what you are going to have to worry about. Protecting the bike is.

good to know- I just got a couple of cheapo bikes that we can get around the islands on when we dock. I'm with you- I'd never bring my good road bike out. Salt away works amazingly on the boat- will include the bikes in the post cruise washdown! Thanks!

 

[scross]

One more thing to think about is if the bikes on the roof rack would cast shadows on your solar panel if you have one on your C-24.You don’t want shadows on a solar panel if at all possible.