I like the kayak and will eagerly await delivery.
We listed our RTT today and got a nibble. We need the kayak carrying version before summer.
It will carry 150 pounds.
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Now that is cool! The key is to get one half of the boat on the rack. That means you only have the other half to pick up.
I’ve posted a pictures of this before, so apologies to those who don’t need a repeat. But, here’s a picture showing the bars I added that span the ends of the Thule cross bars. Those bars are always there. The two uprights are removable and one can be used on whichever side I’m loading from. The drawback of pivoting the kayak into place is that any cradles used can’t be too tall. My cradles are foam, covered with indoor/outdoor carpet to keep them from being degraded by UV exposure.
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Can you also flip it over and carry the car on the kayak?
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As a former Mini owner, I can say yes, it works, but only if the boat is deck-down on the racks. For example, when I flipped this setup over, it didn’t hold water:
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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BXbdtJ8bC4H5gwHt9USC2tqbjY-aHkXQ/view?usp=sharing
Chestnut Pal and bundle of strips for my first woodstrip build. Headed from Green Bay to northeast Georgia July 1980. The 1969 Ford Falcon was not pretty, but it was dependable. Everything I owned was in or on that car including a cast iron woodstove. I was on the wild side-still am!
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I found this picture picking up my first kayak, an Old Town Loon 100, some time in the 1990s I think. The Escort OEM rack was pretty flimsy, hence the extra tie-downs. The shop, O.R.E. in Boardman, Ohio is still there!
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Looks line a repurposed C-store or fast food joint. More power to 'em!!!
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Sunrift Adventures started in a similar store front where I got my first rec boat.
They are now in an older building but have a much better selection.
I’ve seen sea kayaks come and go and now it’s mostly rec boats.
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I got a new rack! Goodboy “hatchback special”. I loved my old Marco saddles but the longer spoiler on the ‘23 Crosstrek was starting to crack under the weight of the bow of the boat as I would slide it on (on a bathmat). This should be much more secure for my long boats anyway.
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Nice,
Not just for surf skis anymore.
I’ve been using them since 2015.
From a 14’ Petrel Play to a 20’ V10 Sport, no problem.
(prior to getting the Goodboy rack, I avoided crossing the Dames Pt bridge (near Jacksonville) if there was a bit of an east wind blowing)
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is the boat held on with bungie cord? That doesn’t look safe…
Very thick bungee, but if you look closely you’ll also see a strap around the boat and rack as well.
The bungees are very secure, but common sense calls for the strap and also to regularly replace the bungees due to wear and UV (I also replace my straps and pfd regularly for the same reason)
Welcome to using the Goodboy system. I’m on my second set - my first set was awkward & inconvenient to us on an Outback - so now I also have the Hatchback model of a Goodboy rack. You are more trusting of those bungees than I am. I strap the kayak to the bars and occasionally use the bungee also.
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@kayakhank I will definitely be using straps in addition to the bungees for highway driving. For down the street I’m good with the bungees.
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Yes those super thick bungees are the best, have never had one even slip with a 24’ C4
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Agree re the bungees - they are great to have when putting the boat on the car on a windy day - immediate security. Doubling up with straps to hit the highway or a long drive is a must.
I have to put in a plug for Kayakpro EZ-Vee racks. I’ve had both, but the Kayakpro version carries the boat several inches lower and is better engineered: there’s an internal x-brace in the longitudinal bar, the Vees have quick-release connections, and it has a powder coat finish.
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I don’t double up, just one strap across the middle around main rack, I could spend all day backing up my backups
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