Discuss

[MaxP]

Hi!

I would like to store our Aquaglide Inflatable Tandem kayak on our roof rack. I have spoken to Rack Attack here in Vancouver and they are telling me that the Yakima Jayhook is probably the best one though I would have to modify the railings to make them a bigger diameter (they are 1” and the rack needs 1.5” apparently).

I am thinking that strengthening the rack by adding a crossbar or two might be a good idea also - the kayak is 35 pounds but with wave action etc... Anybody else storing their kayak tellpizzahut on their CW30? Thanks for any comments. Also, with the VHF antenna on the starboard side I guess I will just have to live with loosening the VHF antenna and bring it down to parallel and then lever the kayak up one end at a time.

Thanks.

 

[BradOwens]

We store our Aquaglide Tandem on the factory rails with just a protective padded sleeve on the rails. We load it one end first then slide it to the inside of the VHF antenna, then lift the other end on. It hangs back quite a ways this way, but once lashed down it is very stable. We have a 2012 R29, so your roof racks may be different.

 

[SgtAlf]

No extra rack needed, just strap to the roof rack. Easier loading from the end, rather than the side.

TIP: If you put a boat of any type on the roof rack, then try to fish the straps around the bars is a real PIA. Put the straps on first, buckle, toss the front strap forward, and the back strap aft. Load boat, flip straps over the bow and stern, strap around the roof rack. Do the same when unloading the boat, remove the straps from the near side, buckle, toss forward and aft. They'll be ready when you reload the boat.

 

[Robvic]

We have two 15.5', 50lb kayaks we mount on the factory rails (R-31). There is a fair bit of flex on the cross bar rails so I am going to add two supports between the rails and the roof (one support for each cross bar) using standard marine grade rail fittings. I also put bikes up there and you really notice the flex with the (much lighter) bikes due to the added height above the cross bars. I have the fittings, now I just need to find the time.

 

[BB marine]

One issue that I find with the Cutwater rack storage is the Radar location. The Ranger has the radar dome in the fwd section of the Pilot House. The Cutwater has it in the aft section. We have a Thule rack attached to the rails on the roof. It works great except it does cause some loss to the radars transmit/ reception. The board is on the starboard side roof and I do have to lower the antenna when putting the board up there. I have used the radar and find I loose some transmission/ reception fwd/starboard and starboard when the board is up there. I spoke with the Garmin Rep. last winter when attending the SW Ranger/Cutwater rendezvous. I asked him if it was my imagination or does that interfere with the transmission. He responded with it's not your imagination. Most of our cruising this is not an issue but it is something to consider if mounting permanent items or keeping a kayak or dingy up there. It still functions properly fwd where my heading line is.

 

[rackline]

How does everyone with biminis load kayaks onto their roof racks? Pre Bimini we'd bring it up across the transom and cockpit. Now, with a Bimini installed it's either collapse the Bimini to bring it up across the cockpit or get it up on the bow first. The bow is so high it doesn't seem that trying to bring it up there is practical.