Forum Discussion

Bill001's avatar
Bill001
Explorer
Jul 26, 2015

Quit the Kayaker's Life?

Greetings All,

I've written a number of questions concerning TCs. Thanks all for all the valuable info.

So one problem I have is that I have an 18 ft sea kayak. Seems too long to put on a cargo trailer. And if I pull a cargo trailer it would be small; something suitable for forest service roads. Ya'll agree with that assessment?

I have rigged roller systems to help me load the kayak by myself on top of a hatchback, but loading it on top of a TC would certainly be much much harder.

I also worry about the total height of the vehicle and bridge clearance on something like a 350/3500 truck with a multi-slider on it's back. .

Seems to me it is time to retire the kayak, doesn't seem to be a practical hobby to drag around with a full-time TC setup.

Your thoughts"

Thanks,
Bill
Truck Campers
  • redink's avatar
    redink
    Explorer
    Jul 31, 2015
    Smaller kayaks. Necky Manitou Sport around 35# and drag up the sides pretty easy. I don't have a basement and am about 13' give or take a couple inches. but I just put airbags on so might have raised it an inch or 2 and need to recheck.
  • stevenal's avatar
    stevenal
    Nomad II
    Jul 27, 2015
    I just picked up one of these for my tandem Hobie. It was cheaper than the Yakima, and looks to be heavier duty; although it doesn't fold up like the Yakima. Good for up to 20'.
  • Deb_and_Ed_M's avatar
    Deb_and_Ed_M
    Explorer II
    Jul 27, 2015
    Depending on how tall you TC is, the Thule Hullavator (Malone also makes one) might work if you can bench press your boat - which is a real beauty, by the way! Sadly, if that's the kind of performance you are used to - everything else is going to paddle like a barge.

    Back to trailers: I have a 12' x 6' utility trailer that I use to carry multiple 12-to-14' kayaks (obviously it's not the kind of trailer with the fold-up ramp). I took it to a metal fabricator, and had (2) 36" tall "H"-shaped racks built, so I can carry my 16' touring boat above the other boats - by pushing the nose of that boat more forward, it doesn't hang off the back any worse than the other boats. I had them use the same size square tubing that will fit any Thule rack accessories.

  • MrPhelps's avatar
    MrPhelps
    Explorer
    Jul 27, 2015
    I have an Aire Sea Tiger inflatable. It is between 18 feet and 19 feet long.

    I keep it in a ROLA rubberized bag on a tray on a front receiver hitch with lightweight foldable aluminum tray.



    The bag contains the boat, pump, paddles and a small kayak cart. I can inflate the boat and transport it via the cart. Here are some photos from our return trip to Bowman Lake, MT last summer.



    with my navigator..



  • rexlion's avatar
    rexlion
    Explorer
    Jul 27, 2015
    It's too bad they don't make something like the Thule Hullavator or Malone Telos with enough reach to bring a yak up the side of a TC.

    But I can picture a homebrew rig. Two long supports that attach to the TC roof edge along one side, and extend diagonally to the ground. A winch or pulley system mounted somewhere on the roof. Lay the kayak against the diagonal supports, parallel to your rig, with bow and stern lines to the roof. Then go up top and pull it up. Slow, but low effort and controllable.
  • bobndot's avatar
    bobndot
    Explorer II
    Jul 27, 2015
    quote wrote:
    Loading the kayak to the top of the TC is not what I'm worried about, it would be lowering it - by yourself.


    wouldn't the braking feature on a 12v. remote controlled winch solve that ? Mount one onto the front roof-rack crossbar.

    start the offload by hand to the 1/2 mark then climb down and release the locking winch by remote and lower it as you guide it to a soft controlled landing .
  • Buzzcut1's avatar
    Buzzcut1
    Nomad II
    Jul 27, 2015
    Bill001 wrote:
    Loading the kayak to the top of the TC is not what I'm worried about, it would be lowering it - by yourself.

    Currently (to unload) I grip the kayak stern and simply walk it back and lower to the ground (safety line in place), but on a TC, I would be lowering it down while standing on top of the TC; like swan diving it into the ground - one will get to a point where most of the boat is below and hanging off the TC while I have little more than the bow to grip. There will be a point when the kayak will have the cantilever advantage against me.

    It's the graceful landing I'm thinking is problematic.


    Actually you fulcrum it off the roller or rolled rear awning while standing relatively far back from the edge holding a bow line that has a grip knot every foot. I place a furniture pad on the ground for the stern to land on. I also usually drop the rear jacks to eliminate sway while on the roof. Once the stern is down I lower the bow off to the side. It's really fast and easy once you have the kayak unstrapped from the cross bars.
  • Bill001's avatar
    Bill001
    Explorer
    Jul 27, 2015
    Bill001 wrote:
    lizzie wrote:
    Seriously? You roll an 18 foot sea kayak? Why? lizzie


    Yes. I use Greenland style rolling with a Greenland paddle. If one counts left and right side, there are 6 basic rolls, I can also float on my back with the kayak laid over in the water as long as I want - its called a "balance brace" . r

    The Inuits used that to rest on long trips, or to rest after an incident so one can pause and think what they want to do. Greenland rolling is very elegant.

    Actually in my boat, if one can't roll it, one shouldn't be in it. The cockpit is too tight to do a traditional self rescue. One has to swim back into the boat from underwater and decide how one is going to get it up.... when out alone. If I ever sell it, I won't sell it to someone that isn't committed to learning how to roll; it's a death trap.


    Oh. Why? Cuz it's fun. Most of the time I do more rolling than paddling.
  • Bill001's avatar
    Bill001
    Explorer
    Jul 27, 2015
    lizzie wrote:
    Seriously? You roll an 18 foot sea kayak? Why? lizzie


    Yes. I use Greenland style rolling with a Greenland paddle. If one counts left and right side, there are 6 basic rolls, I can also float on my back with the kayak laid over in the water as long as I want - its called a "balance brace" . r

    The Inuits used that to rest on long trips, or to rest after an incident so one can pause and think what they want to do. Greenland rolling is very elegant.

    Actually in my boat, if one can't roll it, one shouldn't be in it. The cockpit is too tight to do a traditional self rescue. One has to swim back into the boat from underwater and decide how one is going to get it up.... when out alone. If I ever sell it, I won't sell it to someone that isn't committed to learning how to roll; it's a death trap.
  • Kayteg1's avatar
    Kayteg1
    Explorer II
    Jul 27, 2015
    That is where quality of equipment plays the role.
    The first canoe I bought was about 90lb and even I am strong man, capable of lifting 200lb slabs, loading that canoe on 11' roof was almost impossible.
    Than I bough 45lb quality canoe and that one "loads itself"
    I only have foam cover on the roof railing.

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