R-21 Kayak Rack

S

shackinballard

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2012
Messages
8
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C SE
Vessel Name
Darby
New to Tugnuts. We are purchasing a R-21 and had planned to include the factory bimini, however, we want to be able to take our kayaks on the boat. The factory guys say their covers are not made to handle the weight of a kayak. We'd really like to store them above the aft deck. Has anyone had a kayak rack made for the R-21? If so, I'd appreciate seeing any pictures and information regarding how you made the rack.
 
Did you ever get a response to this? We're rowers and would love to cruise around with our singles.
 
Check out the Stella Maris modifications photo album. Dave and Maureen had a welded stainless steel frame made for a flat surrey top - specifically for this purpose. It even incorporated a ladder for ease of access. Pretty cool.

Cheers,

Bruce
 
Bruce Moore":2si1u7ou said:
Check out the Stella Maris modifications photo album. Dave and Maureen had a welded stainless steel frame made for a flat surrey top - specifically for this purpose. It even incorporated a ladder for ease of access. Pretty cool.

Cheers,

Bruce
Click to expand...

Here is one of their pics showing their custom surrey frame
main.php


This surrey frame will be INFINITELY more useful than the no-longer-made factory surrey. It will be a very useful kayak or dingy rack. I LIKE the concept of a surrey but having used mine for a few months have concluded it is VERY difficult to fish from. With EIGHT (yes, EIGHT!) stainless steel uprights supporting the top frame it is not "fish-friendly". The cockpit is more like a detention cell rather than what it should be (see the pic above). Securing a rectangular frame to the roof of the pilothouse and supporting it at TWO locations toward the aft provide PLENTY of reinforcement as shown in the pic above. EIGHT uprights is...about 6 too many. These boats are so "modifiable" so changes CAN be made. I'm thinking over my options...

It would seem wise for the factory to consider making SOMETHING like the Stella Maris' surrey frame as an option. TWO THUMBS UP on the STella Maris surrey!

Fair Winds,

/david
 
The skipper of the Red Current fashioned a way to carry our two kayaks on the "roof" of our 21" Ranger Tug. They are hand-built woodies and fairly light weight (35 pounds each). The Red Current has a two foot hard shell vestibule extension which joins into the standard factory aft canopy.We hoisted those boats up and down last year on our cruise to Desolation with the Port Nut and Red Ranger; cantilevering them over the bow rail. A two person job and really more suitable for a "base camp" operation.

John Verde of the Port Nut has a great website and there are good pictures of our boat there. For this year's cruise, we bought an Innova Swing Two inflatable kayak which only weights 26 pounds, substituting it for the two wooden boats and the dingy. What a way to find space! I call it PAM - Paddling Air Mattress.
 
The surrey top on Stella Maris was of my design. I wanted something simple yet strong enough to stand up to trailering as well as carrying kayaks. S3 Maritime in Ballard did a great job on the frame while Dave at King Marine Canvas did a fantastic job on the canvas.

We towed Stella Maris nonstop from Seattle to Henderson and then up to Page Arizona and back without removing the canvas. At times we were buffeted by very strong cross winds. The top showed no signs of wear whatsoever.

If anyone would like the design plan for the surrey frame, shoot me a PM and I will email it to you.

I will post additional pictures of Stella Maris's enhancements in the next week or two once things settle down a bit. Currently Maureen and I are in Denver for a food show. This afternoon we head to Seattle where we will head out on Destiny early tomorrow morning for five days in the San Juans. Next week it is off to Sacramento for another food show and then, finally, Maureen and I will head out on Stella Maris for the weekend cruising Lake Mohave. Maureen will head home Sunday night while I will spend the week cruising south on Lake Mohave. Maureen will rejoin me at the end of the week at the south end of the Lake for another weekend of cruising before we pull Stella Maris and head home.

What a crazy mixed up life we lead but, what a great life it is!
 
David,

Thought you were on your way North to Alaska? Later?

Jake
 
There is that little issue that created a conflict this summer... Work....
 
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