Platforms & Kayaks

**Strop** · 27th April 2017, 11:05 AM

Hi all,

I am researching platforms at the moment and Have looked through the threads but have not found any mention of kayaks. I have a Feelfree Gemini 2 person kayak that is 83cm wide. It takes up a LOT of space on the roof of my car.

I want to fit the most versatile storage system on the roof of the Disco 4 so just wondering what others have done. I can see the advantage of buying a rack that you can fit a roller to so you can get the kayak up and down easier (note to self while typing - check the width of the roller systems). But once it is up there if flat it doesn't leave a lot of room for other things (swag/storage boxes) I won't be taking it with me all the time but it is a staple item for the water based camping.

So, is anyone using the J type brackets to hold their kayaks onto the rack? Or any other methods? Also how are you managing paddles? Are there any suggestion/recommendations/warnings about racks and kayaks.

Aside: I know that I want to put an awning on the side as well.

Thanks

Laurie

**vnx205** · 27th April 2017, 01:13 PM

An 83 cm wide kayak is going to take up a lot of space no matter what you do. My widest kayak is 58 cm and most of mine are a lot less.

While it might be possible to use J cradles I would expect that the width of your kayak would mean you have a very tall load and a lot more stress on the cradles than a narrower kayak. It would sit very high and catch a cross wind quite a lot.
The idea of a roller or something that lets you just lift one end of the kayak at a time I would expect would be essential with something that heavy. Some female paddlers I know just put a towel on the back of the roof of their SUV and slide the kayak on that. That system works well for them as they only have to lift half the weight of the kayak at any time.
I am a big fan of using a bow rope when transporting a kayak. A friend of mine had a passing truck blow his kayak of his vehicle still attached to the roof rack. A following car drove over the kayak and roof rack. A bow rope would have prevented that.

**Vern** · 27th April 2017, 01:50 PM

Not disco related, but our cheapy 2x2 seater kayaks are on J racks on our amarok, its all we could come up with

**vnx205** · 27th April 2017, 01:59 PM

Damien, having two reduces one of the problems I am concerned about with a very wide kayak on J cradles. The way you have tied the two together gives a measure of stability and security that wouldn't be there with just one.
That looks like a convenient setup for what you have to transport.

**gofish** · 27th April 2017, 03:02 PM

I've got a PA14 but carry it on a trailer. Much easier on the back & doesn't leave sand & salt all over the car IMO.

**Strop** · 27th April 2017, 06:17 PM

Yes, I have to agree it is a big wide boat. I was very concerned with the kayak becoming a wind sock. Some j brackets let you sit them up not so upright but not sure of the strength.

Thinking that a rail along the sides, tradesmen style might be the go. I could perhaps then have soft bags under one side of the kayak and pull it into the side railing for stability.

Question is do I go for a wider rack? I also don't have a bull bar as a point for a bow line tyedown.

Thanks for the help and pictures.

Laurie

**Tim_AM** · 27th April 2017, 06:18 PM

The answer is simple,

you need to to buy a Chrysler Neon

**Vern** · 27th April 2017, 06:20 PM

I only went for J racks because i have 2 kayaks, otherwise i wouldn't have bothered

**cjc_td5** · 27th April 2017, 07:31 PM

I prefer to load my kayak from the side so my priority was length on my cross bars so I could rest the kayak against them, then lift it onto the bars. The D4 has sloped-in sides so it is a fair reach up and across to a platform without bumping the side or the car somewhere.

**Strop** · 27th April 2017, 07:53 PM

Damien, I have always been the same due to the size of my double. Bought big in case I wanted to run a 12v motor on back. I was hoping or thinking that I would like to perhaps have room for the kayak and a 400 litre top box thing (technical name). I also don't want too wide a rack either as by the time you put a shade on one side I don't want to bang my head getting in and out.

Cjc, I thought about that and came to the conclusion that the roller at the back was the way to go to overcome the possibility of banging the side of the car. With a side on the rack should also prevent it going astray as well.

Vern, understand. It is about how do i maximize space though. By the time I put the kayak and paddles on roof racks flat there is bugger-all space for anything else. If I replace the roof racks with a rack and it uses up all the space no real advantage, though enough space for the sand tracks.

I should be glad no one has told me to lose weight and get a narrower kayak :-)

Laurie

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