If your bow and stern lines are good and you spread them to the 4 corners of
the car, then add some foam on the roof to stop the boat from getting
scratched by the car, it will work just fine. 4 lines to the corners and
the boat isn't going anywhere. I used pool noodles cut in half lengthwise
to make two D-shaped racks across the car. The disadvantage is that when
you take the boat off, your racks go blowing across the parking lot.... This
system worked for me until I found $99 universal racks at Canadian Tire. I
added foam pipe insulation to protect the boats and stop them from slipping.
I had to strap them through the inside of the car, cos I didn't want to make
holes in the car. No problem except in heavy rain.
I've logged 1000's of km with either system. Carried canoes, sea kayaks, WW
boats, lumber and had as many as 7 whitewater boats on top of a Merc Topaz.
Only ever lost 1 canoe (I didn't tie those knots...).
Mike in Lunenburg (I try to spend more time on the water than in
newsgroups....)


"Bill Bradshaw" wrote in message
...
Go buy yourself one of those $300 bolt together trailers and put a tow
hitch
on your little car.
--
Bill

Brought to you from beautiful Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
N 53° 51.140' W 166° 30.228' (WGS 84)

Cracked_Pumpkinhead wrote:
Beginner here. Looking to get myself a Sea Kayak (or even rent for
now) but come across a bit of a problem. I own a 2000 Honda Civic 2
door and got a quote for a roof rack and Kayak carrier and WOW the set
up costs just as much as the darn Kayak! Is there any other way to
safely transport a Kayak with my car without BREAKIN THE BANK?

Also, I am located in Ontario and was wondering if there are any good
forums on local web sites that experienced people frequent that I can
view as well as routes, tips, education etc.

BCITORGB wrote:
Wolfgang recommends:
===============
If it moves.....AT ALL.... cinch it down a bit
tighter.....and repeat.
===============

Hmmm.... do you all concur?

I don't.

(1) At NO movement, would I not risk twisting my plastic boat (almost
18') out of shape?

Yes, you would, especially if it's a hot day.

(2) If I use a foundation of foam, should I not expect to get movement?

Yep. A plastic boat on foam will always move a little, no matter how
tight you get it. The plastic bends, the foam compresses, etc.

The thing to look for is any kind of sliding motion (as opposed to
bending/compression). If you can slide it around, it's not tight
enough. You definitely don't want it sliding around while you're
driving - once it starts sliding you run the real risk of something
working itself loose. If the load's snug, it should stay together.

I make a habit of checking and re-tightening after driving a mile or two.

--
//-Walt
//
//

CP, may i recommend a sort of parallel discussion going on in
re.boats.paddle.touring.... it started as a thread having to do with
paddling a tandem, solo and weight distribtion, and has morphed into a
useful (for me, anyway) discussion of roof rack construction.

Cheers,
Wilf
===========

On 18-Mar-2005, "Tinkerntom" wrote:

This would determine a lot towards your future solution, on all counts.
Any sea kayak, will probably be longer than your car, and require some
special efforts to provide adequate support, in particular special
supports mounted on the bumpers, and this is where the greater expense
comes in.

I've been carrying a pair of sea kayaks or a canoe on my '92 Civic hatchback
since it was new and have never had problems. I've seen folks carry sea kayaks
on an MGB. Small cars are perfectly adequate.

Mike

Cracked Pumpkinhead wrote:
Walt wrote:

"You don't *need* a rack to transport a kayak on your roof."

So there are no laws on carrying Kayaks? I just don't want to get
ticketed.

I'm not aware of any specific laws regarding Kayaks. There's probably a
width restriction that prohibits carrying anything on your roof that
extends more than six or so inches beyond the sides of your car. So,
careful about taking a roof rack off a Suburban and mounting it on your
Civic.

There's also probably something about length, especially in the rear,
but a simple red piece of cloth should take care of that.

I can tell you that I know people who have transported sea kayaks into
and around Ontario with the carpet-and-line method. I would surmise
that if it's actually illegal in Ontario they would have been stopped at
the border. If you're really concerned, you might want to research it.

I've taken my kayaks into Ontario (from Michigan) numerous times without
incident.



Actually, whats really more important is that I don't loose
the kayak on the highway or tear off my roof LMAO.

Yeah. Focus on that. Just do it right and you shouldn't have a
problem. You can get a ticket for failing to adequately secure your
load, but AFAIK, the crown doesn't dictate actual specific tie-down
procedures.

On the subject of regulations, however, there are some things you are
required to have with you out on the water. Ontario is a bit more
strict than the US. See http://boating.ncf.ca/equipment.html#unp6

Again, you don't need to spend much money on this stuff, but you should
definitely have it. Cut the bottom off a plastic laundry detergent
bottle and you've got a bailer. Buy a plastic whistle at the Looney
store and you've got a sound signaling device. etc.


--
//-Walt
//
// There is no Völkl Conspiracy

On 18-Mar-2005, "Cracked Pumpkinhead" wrote:

$ 530.00 just for the rack (with the suggested stretcher bar thingy's
required for my tiny little car)

Yikes - I checked Rack Attack's online prices and got $505! That's
a big increase since I bought a rack.

$ 150.00 Kayak cradle thingy (Ughhh)

You can do better here by making cradles.

$ 30.00 Installation

Don't get sucked into paying this. You are going to have to take
the rack off and put it back on frequently. You may as well figure
it out. Mine came with "free" installation and I ended up redoing
the whole thing after the "expert technicians" screwed it up.
(This was at Sporting Lie).

Don't leave a rack on your car all the time. They add noise and
waste fuel if they are not needed.

You can start with foam blocks and delay the purchase of a rack.
Keep your eyes open for a second hand rack - especially from other
paddlers. A friend got a thule rack for $60 and it came with a
Hammer double folding kayak with sails!

Mike

Walt wrote:



On the subject of regulations, however, there are some things you are
required to have with you out on the water. Ontario is a bit more
strict than the US. See http://boating.ncf.ca/equipment.html#unp6

A better link:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/BoatingSafety/sbg-gsn/canoe.htm

Note that above 6 meters the regs change.

--
//-Walt
//
//

Walt suggests:
==============
Again, you don't need to spend much money on this stuff, but you should
definitely have it. Cut the bottom off a plastic laundry detergent
bottle and you've got a bailer. Buy a plastic whistle at the Looney
store and you've got a sound signaling device. etc.
====================

Walt, I like your attitude!

Thanks for keeping it real. Between you, Michael, and Tink, I should
get my rack rigged soon (and cheap).

Cheers,
Wilf
==========

BCITORGB wrote:
Walt suggests:
==============
Again, you don't need to spend much money on this stuff, but you
should
definitely have it. Cut the bottom off a plastic laundry detergent
bottle and you've got a bailer. Buy a plastic whistle at the Looney
store and you've got a sound signaling device. etc.
====================

Walt, I like your attitude!

Thanks for keeping it real. Between you, Michael, and Tink, I should
get my rack rigged soon (and cheap).

Cheers,
Wilf
==========


If you keep it cheap, there is more left for pizza later! TnT

Tink thinks:
===========
If you keep it cheap, there is more left for pizza later! TnT
==================

Tink, sell your shares in lumber, I just found everything I need next
to the shed in the back 40. ;-)

Cheers,
Wilf
===========