within reason, there is nothing wrong with living outside that bubble. I paddled for 20 years without a PFD, in a boat that had no bulkheads and I didn’t bother with float bags or spray skirt. Yeah, I sank it, but I got my scuba tanks out and brought it back to the surface. Now, I would not go without safety gear, know why I wont ? a friend sailed from CA to HI on his boat, his boat safely made to Maui and crashed on the rocks without him, based on the logs in the boat he must have fallen overboard 4 days earlier. That sold me on safety gear.
So I now live in a bubble but being a old long distance offshore sailer, I am of the firm belief you are not in trouble until the Coast Guard shows up and tells you how to sail and that as a last resort you always step UP into your lifeboat.
There are bubbles and there are bubbles, I think modern days bubbles are way too protective, but no bubble is dangerous, use common sense.
I’ve hauled 15’ and 17’ canoes in trucks since the eighties, 6’ and 8’ foot beds, with a red bandanna for a flag, no support for Canoe-No issues. Trucks are made to haul things. No different than hauling home a load of lumber or a ladder, always be mindful of your load. A little common sense goes a long way.
Common Sense is an oxymoron - Willowleaf has several valid points and Luckyday just wanted to troll - whatever - gotten lots to think about on this thread, appreciate the feedback.
I think that the bottom line is that truck-bedding my kayaks is not ideal, but will probably be fine - given good mounting and ‘common sense’ and careful driving…
If secured well they will not fly out, that much extension out of that short a bed would make me uncomfortable though, not just from a rear end accident but I have seen issues with making turns. I am much more comfortable with my canoe on the roof though my canoe only weighs 23 pounds and I am young and tall so its easy. I have considered putting my shorter canoe in the back if I needed to haul 2, it is 12 foot, but I also have a 6.5 foot bed, would not do it with my 15 foot boat or the 12 footer if I had a shorter bed.
A used trailer can be had for $300-$400 of craigslist all day long where I live. Does not have to be a yack specific trailer, adding a rack to any trailer is easy.
you have a good plan. I only had shorter kayaks 10’ or so. my only suggestion would be to have a bed cover, or cross bars. I had a S-10, I loaded on bed cover. I used adjustable straps to hold down. I liked to see the yak, to be sure of safety. I recently got a full size truck and will be doing same. i will put added strap through carry handle to increase support.
I use a similar set up to haul my 14 ft Jackson Cuda 14. Nice touch with the magnetic tail lights. I have a Ford F150 with a 6 1/2 ft bed and haul my kayak 100’s of miles without and problems.
I have hauled my kayaks and canoes in a pickup bed for decades! I am on my fourth truck, but have always had long bed Fords, so with the tailgate down I have nearly 10’ of bed. With an eye-bolt on each front corner to snub them to, and straps to secure then to the back corner to prevent swishing, I have hauled boats up tp 17’ with never a problem. It is by far the easiest, cheapest, simplest, and safest way to haul them—the best way! No high lifting, no trailer, no special gear needed.
I don’t think I’ve ever ‘trolled’ on-line. If you are rock n’ rolling in wind and waves in cold conditions without a dry/wetsuit you are going to paddle your butt off to keep up-right. You can’t roll. And, if you are good, you won’t. It’s not luck if you are good. PBR? If I’m in the boat it’s ‘Miller time’. If I’m in the water I’m not going to stay in long enough to use the PFD. If your boat has bulk heads you are holding on to a huge float.
I couldnt agree with you more. Your response is well thought out and seems based on experience, but as you expected, you are hearing anecdotal stories from people who have been lucky so far. The kayaks need to be secure and with regard to the center of gravity of the vehicle to take highway speeds.
I kayak on Long Island on the ocean and the bays and see people ignoring safety practices all the time.
They are eventually referred to as “victims”. If they are warned about it beforehand the inevitable statement is “but I’m being careful”.
I too have a pickup and haul kayaks, but not in the bed. I have one of those T - bar extenders, but use it in the upright position. I routinely haul 16 ft sea kayaks up on top. Two straps. I’m 65, the Scorpio weighs about 50 lbs or so, but it’s very easy to leverage up on top. I first put the bow up on the side of the truck bed, easily lift kayak up. Using a bit of mind over matter, a push on the stern the bow goes up on the truck cab. I have a foam pad up under the bow & padding on the T-bar. No lights, no flags, very easily secured.
I carry up to three kayaks (longest 14’) in my camper van. Carrying two this past summer, with the top one tied through the carry handle to the back door, the carry handle rope broke when I slammed on the brakes for deer avoidance. Kayak sailed up to and cracked the front windshield. Now there’s a heavy bungee to attach the top kayak to the back. That has worked like a charm so far - it slows and stops the forward motion (and yes, I have tested it - before getting the windshield replaced!)
