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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    Aberfoyle Park SA
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    Default Boat Roof Rack Loaders

    Getting bulky & heavy boats onto roof-racks...
    It's all very well having racks rated to 60kg or 100kg, but there's not many can
    just pick their boat up & plop it on the roof if it weighs more than about 15 or 20kg.
    What are others doing? - what's out there?

    Idea for the thread came from this gadget via Duckworks at Gizmag.
    StrongArm helps load boats onto cars
    Seems a bit pricey, but I guess it wouldn't be a high turn-over item.

    cheers
    AJ

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Melbourne,VIC
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    157

    Default

    My canoe weighs 50Kg's.My station wagon prohibits loading from the rear.I fitted crossbars with rollers(polypipe)between the two racks.I load from the side,then when on top,i turn the boat around.It's still heavy,but at 56 I can still load,and unload single handed.(just)

  4. #3
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    Default

    Neat.
    I used to plonk one end of my f'glass canadians on the end of the front roof bar,
    leaning against the roof of the car at about 45degree angle to the car. Then nip
    down the back & lift that across onto the rear bar. Wriggle it all more or less
    central on the bars then push it forward. But that was an old car & I wasn't too
    worried about marking the paint with the boat. Carpet taped around the bars
    acted as rollers.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Melbourne,VIC
    Posts
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    Default

    sounds good.I've been carrying the canoe "up there" for years.Last year (Newyears eve)a gale force side wind,Tore the canoe and racks off the guttering.Not nice having your canoe hanging on by a thread against the side of the car when travelling at 100Kms.My poor old car,A toyota camry wagon has dents everywhere,thanks to the canoe,,,lol.Might rig my 6x4 trailer to carry it.

  6. #5
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    Default

    That will be a long drawbar...
    Did you have nose & tail ropes on the canoe when the wind ripped it off?
    AJ

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Melbourne,VIC
    Posts
    157

    Default

    ok,as for drawbar,,,i'm planning to fit raised racks on trailer taking canoe to just above roof line.Then have canoe over roof of said car.Fingers crossed.It was the bow and stern ropes that held it on the car
    We still had 4 hours drive ahead of us.Living in melb.going to portland.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Aberfoyle Park SA
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    Default

    I lost a couple of sheets of plywood once, but so far (touch wood), not a boat.

    Would worry a bit about spoon drains & driveway gutters etc tilting the roof of
    the car & the end of the boat into contact as the rear wheels go into them.
    Unless there was only a little overlap, and plenty of clearance. One of my
    neighbours put a pole thru the rear window of his VX wagon like that. Thought
    it would be ok with the end of the pole 300mm from the middle of the window,
    thinking only left/right angles.

    cheers
    AJ

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Melbourne,VIC
    Posts
    157

    Default

    i had given that issue some thought so i'll play around with it.May elevate boat a bit more to get clearance.Dunno.Like i said,it's an idea at the moment,and i'm a pretty cautious person
    i was also concerned about centre of gravity being too high as well.Looks like my poor old FD rebuild is going to have to wait.I have a canoe that needs my attention,and now my Ts16

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