Racks for kayaks?

[Ian and Lins]

Sorry, couldn't find any pics. We were at Woolacombe Bay and there were loads of hightops with J frames screwed directly into the SIDE of the hightop. Personally I'd be very concerned about spreading the load on the inside of the H/Top but there were a lot of them there, mostly used for surf boards.
BTW how come you got 2 kyaks for Christmas you lucky beggar, one for each foot?
http://www.discountramps.com/marineImag ... rack-4.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[VicnStew]

Their are German racks available that hold a kayak on either side of the hightop and they slide down to waist hight then they push up when the Kayak is strapped on. Lots of Westfalia high tops are fitted with them and I had one on my old, none Westy high top and they are really rather good. I use my sit on kayak a few times a month in the summer and if I am going to be honest the dripping sea water down the side of the van got into the seems and started to bubble my mint original bodywork so bad that I wasnt to disappointed when I chopped the van up three years later. I still carry the Kayak but I now have a pop top Westy and it goes on the fiberglass roof, any sea water runs along my greased gutters and I keep an eye on the water that runs off.

Old van



New van



jed

Dont suppose you kept the rack or remember the company who made them?

[VicnStew]

Sorry, couldn't find any pics. We were at Woolacombe Bay and there were loads of hightops with J frames screwed directly into the SIDE of the hightop. Personally I'd be very concerned about spreading the load on the inside of the H/Top but there were a lot of them there, mostly used for surf boards.
BTW how come you got 2 kyaks for Christmas you lucky beggar, one for each foot?
http://www.discountramps.com/marineImag ... rack-4.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It was a surprise to me too! Happened to mention a passing interest while watching some sea kayakers earlier this year. By complete coincidence my better half found a couple a work colleage wanted rid of at a snip so she took a punt that I'd be chuffed and bought them! she was right but of course now there's all the equipment and transporting issues that comes with them.........."oh, didn't think of that!" she says, love her!

Once again, happy new year to all!

Stew

[jed the spread]

Dont suppose you kept the rack or remember the company who made them?

I cant remember the exact name but if you find out their are quite a few on ebay.de usually. Its sherpa something or other but it might be worth asking on Brick-yard as they are more into this kind of thing.

jed

[malibu]

Hi all, I unexpectedly found two kayaks in my Christmas stocking this year, well chuffed about that as I've been considering having a go for a while. The problem I'm facing now is how I transport two kayaks on a high top T25, haven't been able to find anything even remotely suitable on tinternet. Feeling confident some of you guys have solved this problem and are keen to pass your snippets of wisdom to a poor ignorant soul!

Happy new year!

Stew

i have some hoops fitted to my semi high top the last german owner had them made,give me your email and i will send some pics/or someone tell mme how to post on line

[sarran1955]

Hello,




While using the camper as an attachment for leisure articles, kayak, bikes, skis and so on, is fine in principle


But...

I do feel that a 1000 volt pylon is going a little bit over the top


Cordialement,

[dsa]

HI i had one on my Atlantic Hi top i am sure it was called a Sherpa translift rack/system and like Jed said you can pull it down to load it so height is not a problem

[fairwynds]

Hi
after much searching around on here and elsewhere, I ended up making my own, using a pair of Fiamma gutter fixings (same as for my F45 Fiamma awning) and having a couple of short bars welded on). Then I just fitted a stock Mont Blanc kayak cradle to each - sorted. At errrr, higher speeds, it pays to put a strop over the roof, from the kayak to a s/steel eye in the opposite gutter, stops any shudder noise. Will post pics when I get home!

[VicnStew]

Thanks fairwynds, look forward to the pics, sounds like a very economic option.

DSA- thanks for info, will hunt for them on tinternet

I got a reply from the eBay bespoke rack maker who thinks making a rack for T25 hi-tops is fine and to load kayaks on side of hi-top instead of roof
I will speak on phone with him in the next few days

[Ian and Lins]

Have a look in 'members only' forum at Readers Rides and then WindySurfers pics. That's the sort of thing I've seen.

[windysurfer]

I made a set for carrying my boards from a set of high top roof bars. All the weight is taken by the vans gutter



The top of the bars is held in place with a stub fixed from inside out so the bars could be removed without leaving any holes in the hightop, just 10mm of thread

[Ian and Lins]

That is a very tidy job

[VicnStew]

it is indeed a tidy job, like it a lot except.........realy uncomfortable about putting holes of any sort in the hitop, hmmmm.....

But! good news on another front, the Ebay seller I contacted has been very helpful and after giving him dimensions and sending a couple of pics he has given me a price to make bespoke racks made to order with removeable J bars on both sides of the hitop of £150 plus postage (he is happy for self pick-up if requested). Given some of the prices I've seen for racks out there (the price of 4 J bars on their own could cost this much!) I thought this was a really good deal and one I shall probably take up. Anyone else interested the link is: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200607793694? ... 1423.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Ian and Lins]

Glad it's working out....if you put 'em a bit lower you could have a trimaran?

[KamperKev]

I,m inspired to have a crack at a set up like windysurfers. Got an old roofrack I can hack up and paint. Will post pictures when I get around to it ( prob Easter ).

Kev