Kayak to rack, hull up or hull down?

The Yakima rep at REI (Bailey's Crossroads, Falls Church, VA) last May told
me that stacker are recommended *only* for white water kayaks. For touring
kayaks, he recommended the Mako Saddles (fiberglass or plastic) or
Landshark Saddles (plastic only) with or without Hully Rollers.

Rick (rjd9999@yahoo.com) wrote:

 > I have a Yakima rack with cradles, but they also have "stackers" for
 > carrying the boats sideways. The general opinion is that, for long term
 > storage, you want to have the kayaks on their sides. This suggests that
 > the stackers are kinder to the hull than either method. The hulls are
 > stronger up than down, however, though there are some rec boats that are
 > designed for the hull down carry (the plastic Necky tandem, for example -
 > they even print the name upside down on the hull for this reason).
 >
 > So, there is no definitive answer, though hull up is generally considered
 > better than hull down (and some feel that it is just wrong to
 > move/transport a boat upside down).
 > ...<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Kayak to rack, hull up or hull down? 

"Rocky Rinker" <rockrinker.RemoveThis@comcast.net> wrote > After giving up on the
foam block substitute for a rack, we've decided to
 > buy a rack. I have heard competing opinions about the best way to
 > mount/attach the kayaks to the crossbars.

 > The boats are plastic, recreational kayaks.
 >

Many plastic recreational kayaks will have a tendency to distort if
they are tied to any rack system very hard and very long. On the
other hand, they will generally regain their shape after a little
while in the sun.

I have had good luck by using a kayak stacker (it puts the boats on
their side) and by securing them with a cam strap that is firm but not
torqued too much. You should re-check your load after a few miles in
any case.

Randy<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Kayak to rack, hull up or hull down? 

randallh.DeleteThis@sonic.net (Randy Hodges) wrote in message news:<3b41c027.0308251158.423b7a00.DeleteThis@posting.google.com>...
 > "Rocky Rinker" <rockrinker.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote > After giving up on the
 > foam block substitute for a rack, we've decided to
  > > buy a rack. I have heard competing opinions about the best way to
  > > mount/attach the kayaks to the crossbars.
 >
  > > The boats are plastic, recreational kayaks.
  > >
 >
 > Many plastic recreational kayaks will have a tendency to distort if
 > they are tied to any rack system very hard and very long. On the
 > other hand, they will generally regain their shape after a little
 > while in the sun.
 >
 > I have had good luck by using a kayak stacker (it puts the boats on
 > their side) and by securing them with a cam strap that is firm but not
 > torqued too much. You should re-check your load after a few miles in
 > any case.
 >
 > Randy

I carry three boats on a VW Golf and two on a Jetta. an NDK, a P&H and
a Sealution, all sea boats.
The NDK is strengthned to do rescues and be carried upside down. This
boat you can carry just about any way you want . The Sealution will
bend to hell on a rack , the P & H is pretty stiff.
I carry all on them in J saddles on the Golf and on foam blocks with
the Jetta. I prefer the saddles. They support the boat well and none
of my plastic boats have been hurt by them.
They grace the lid of my car all year around because the regularly see
use, even in winter.
I would recommend J saddles and if you can't get them check out what
the manufacturer recommends. Nigel Dennis recommends carrying his
upside down but they are pretty heavy and the glass is well; a little
over the top. You can put that boat on grass and walk along the top
deck and not worry about damaging anything.
The Thule J saddles are not very good though. They rust and have some
other issues.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Kayak to rack, hull up or hull down? 

Hull up, cockpit down. Can't hurt a boat this way. The pressure of the
strap is evenly distributed around the hull and sides of the boat. Any
other way will cause uneven pressure on the hull.

Try this at home to see for yourself. With most rec boat, you can lay the
boat cockpit down and then push in the hull with your hand if you lay some
of your weight on it. For comparison tie a strap around the boat and pick
up the boat using the strap with the hull down and cockpit up so the boat is
resting on the strap by the hull. Do you see any deformation on the hull?

Jim

"Rocky Rinker" <rockrinker DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:UBc2b.188111$It4.91157@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net...
 > After giving up on the foam block substitute for a rack, we've decided to
 > buy a rack. I have heard competing opinions about the best way to
 > mount/attach the kayaks to the crossbars. A guide we know said we should
 > mount the kayaks with the hulls up. He contends the boats will not be
 > distorted and will ride better. Another person told us to use saddles and
 > mount the boats hulls-down.
 >
 > What do members of the group recomend?
 >
 > The boats are plastic, recreational kayaks.
 >
 > Thanks,
 >
 > Rock
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Kayak to rack, hull up or hull down? 

Rocky Rinker wrote:
 >
 > After giving up on the foam block substitute for a rack, we've decided to
 > buy a rack. I have heard competing opinions about the best way to
 > mount/attach the kayaks to the crossbars. A guide we know said we should
 > mount the kayaks with the hulls up. He contends the boats will not be
 > distorted and will ride better. Another person told us to use saddles and
 > mount the boats hulls-down.
 >
 > What do members of the group recomend?
 >
 > The boats are plastic, recreational kayaks.

Hull up. Keeps the rain out of the cockpit.

We're talking plastic boats here - don't overthink this, it's not that
critical.

--
//-Walt
//
// "Fair and Balanced"<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Kayak to rack, hull up or hull down?