Kayaks

[WillyB]

We came across two 8'-0" Lifetime sit on top kayaks at Walmart last summer for $41 each. Shockingly inexpensive. We are looking to take them with us once we get our 21C in October.

We have a 5'-6" bed Ford F-150 with an Undercover hinged hard cover and am considering mounting some sort of support on top of it to carry these kayaks. The cover is made of ABS plastic and can support 650 lbs.

Has anyone mounting something this before?

[Randy in Maine]

Before I had a cap on my truck, I used a Thule XPorter Pro rack but it mounts to the truck rails. I bought mine on Craigslist for $300.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o1LSvDv7Uk

[HABBERDABBER]

Originally Posted by WillyB

We came across two 8'-0" Lifetime sit on top kayaks at Walmart last summer for $41 each. Shockingly inexpensive. We are looking to take them with us once we get our 21C in October.

We have a 5'-6" bed Ford F-150 with an Undercover hinged hard cover and am considering mounting some sort of support on top of it to carry these kayaks. The cover is made of ABS plastic and can support 650 lbs.

Has anyone mounting something this before?

Your image of a rack slide mount appears to be useful for your application. In the past, I've added permanent clips to a pick-up cap I had and a passenger compartment rack as I was hauling a 21' kayak. I used Yakima crossbars, and your image appears to show Thule crossbars. Both are sturdy brands.

I'd use large washers or backing plates if you do attach it to your cap roof.

[WillyB]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

Your image of a rack slide mount appears to be useful for your application. In the past, I've added permanent clips to a pick-up cap I had and a passenger compartment rack as I was hauling a 21' kayak. I used Yakima crossbars, and your image appears to show Thule crossbars. Both are sturdy brands.

I'd use large washers or backing plates if you do attach it to your cap roof.

Thanks for the feedback. Especially, "large washers and backing plates"

I just pulled an image from Google for idea purposes. No brand selections at this time. I might even just build something myself.

[HABBERDABBER]

Originally Posted by WillyB

Thanks for the feedback. Especially, "large washers and backing plates"

I just pulled an image from Google for idea purposes. No brand selections at this time. I might even just build something myself.

I've built plenty of things I could have just bought. I get that part. So my advice is that there's plenty of things to build, but it's a lot simpler, quicker and easier to buy some rack system than reinvent one. And the ones out there are robust, well designed and quick to deploy or remove. Of course, all that depends on the size of your wallet and available tinkering time.

YMMV

That said, somewhere I have a pic of a truck capper wooden canoe rack built by someone. Saw it in a parking lot in the U.P. of Michigan, I think. A thing of beauty. I'll look for that image, but good luck on me finding it anytime soon.
Save and bank up your efforts for mods for your 2022 Escape.

[Doug2000]

The Point 65 Tequila

Point 65 are modular kayaks, a 12' kayak breaks into 3 pieces.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnbXYSEcrPc

[HABBERDABBER]

Utterly amazing. I found the picture of the truck rack I mentioned, easily and quickly, among my many less-than-organized images. My lucky day....maybe.
Pic taken in the U.P. of MI, somewhere around Grand Marais, MI, not Grand Marais MN. Both G.M.'s are on Lake Superior.
I like all the "lightening" slots and holes in this construction. They make for a more organic looking structure and provide many tie-down points.
It's a thing of utility and beauty, to my eye.

[WillyB]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

Utterly amazing. I found the picture of the truck rack I mentioned, easily and quickly, among my many less-than-organized images. My lucky day....maybe.
Pic taken in the U.P. of MI, somewhere around Grand Marais, MI, not Grand Marais MN. Both G.M.'s are on Lake Superior.
I like all the "lightening" slots and holes in this construction. They make for a more organic looking structure and provide many tie-down points.
It's a thing of utility and beauty, to my eye.

I think those slot are there to reduce drag.

[HABBERDABBER]

Originally Posted by WillyB

I think those slot are there to reduce drag.

Yes, of course, that, along with adding visual interest, esthetic beauty, and artistic balance of scads of tie-down points.

[HABBERDABBER]

Originally Posted by Doug2000

The Point 65 Tequila

Point 65 are modular kayaks, a 12' kayak breaks into 3 pieces.

I'd like to see them try an Eskimo roll with that group of paddlers.

[ericw]

Originally Posted by WillyB

We came across two 8'-0" Lifetime sit on top kayaks at Walmart last summer for $41 each. Shockingly inexpensive. We are looking to take them with us once we get our 21C in October.

We have a 5'-6" bed Ford F-150 with an Undercover hinged hard cover and am considering mounting some sort of support on top of it to carry these kayaks. The cover is made of ABS plastic and can support 650 lbs.

Has anyone mounting something this before?

I have an F-150 with the same bed and I ordered a ARE cap with rails and a rack similar to the picture shown. We have used it for several years for carrying kayaks all across the USA and have been happy with it. Interestingly, we get (slightly) better gas mileage with the kayaks on top and less bugs on the trailer.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

Utterly amazing. I found the picture of the truck rack I mentioned...

I like all the "lightening" slots and holes in this construction. They make for a more organic looking structure and provide many tie-down points.
It's a thing of utility and beauty, to my eye.

It is a work of art. I assume that the pattern at the middle of each side bar is decorative, rather than functional. Plywood would likely have been a better choice, structurally, but it wouldn't look the same.

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

Utterly amazing. ...
I like all the "lightening" slots and holes in this construction. They make for a more organic looking structure and provide many tie-down points.
It's a thing of utility and beauty, to my eye.

I suspect that this rack will create a lot of wind noise while on the road. That can become unbearable after a while.

[Sean Murry]

I have been looking at getting an inflatable Kayak so my wife and I can paddle around the various lakes and some protected sea water places we go to. We aren't looking at doing anything serious, but something stable and large enough for the two of us.
In our search we came across the ORKA KAYAK by Airwal Sports. They use the drop stitch technology not only for the floors but for the sides as well resulting in a vert rigid kayak. At 15' long and 32" wide it is virtually the same size as the Advanced Elements Convertible Elite, but in my opinion has a cleaner design. Also comes in 10 lbs lighter due to the drop stitch technology. The price point is similair to the Advanced Element kayak. It also comes with two foot rests versus 1 for the Advanced Element.

[DanK]

Thanks all, alot of diversity in the crowd of kayakers here. I think I just need to test one of the inflatable yaks I'm interested in to get a good feel if it will fit my needs. Big problem is I have no Idea where there is a company in Florida that offers this service.

[daniel108]

I have two tandem kayaks..one is a Feathercraft inflatable, the other is a Hobie.

As you might guess, the Feathercraft wins for being easy to pack and travel, and works best in shallow water. The Hobie is a much more comfortable and stable fishing platform, and a beast into wind. It is usable in shallow water but not with the pedal drive. If fishing was my main objective I'd bring the Hobie, no doubt. But the Hobie is heavy and puts me at the limit or beyond for what my rig can carry.

[YakRV]

Originally Posted by DanK

Thanks all, alot of diversity in the crowd of kayakers here. I think I just need to test one of the inflatable yaks I'm interested in to get a good feel if it will fit my needs. Big problem is I have no Idea where there is a company in Florida that offers this service.

This is a pricey option (as all Hobie boats are), but the Hobie Mirage iTrek series are inflatables with the Hobie MirageDrive pedal system. Starting price is a whopping $2,500 (yikes!). If that doesn’t have you running for the door, go to the Hobie website, click “Kayaks” on the top banner, select “See where to buy,” then use the drop down menu and choose “All Kayaks.” Next type in your zip code, and your closest Hobie dealers will be listed.

Using your location, I found a Hobie dealer in Fort Lauderdale - Nautical Ventures. They show the Hobie iTreks on their website (although all models may not be available yet - this is a brand new series coming out in “early” 2022). It looks like they offer demos.

Good luck with your search!

[HABBERDABBER]

Originally Posted by Sean Murry

In our search we came across the ORKA KAYAK by Airwal Sports.

Looks like you've done your homework. This could be a very nice boat. Proof is in the pudding......can you take one for a test paddle?

[DanK]

The hobie kayaks keep getting mentioned , looking at their weights the seem to be a beast to get on a high set of racks and their cost on a rotomolded boat is quite expensive. The new hobie inflatable cost more then I would like to spend on 2 kayaks. IMHO you pay for the hobie name . Has anyone had any experience with the star pike kayak ?

[Bobbie54]

Foxhunt has the Oru. I've been looking at those but probably won't go for one before I'm ready for a long trip.