Last week I picked up my new (and first) kayak, a Wilderness Systems Tsunami 135. Today was my first multi-hour excursion at Codorus State Park (Hanover, PA). It was a great day to spend on the water. The boat handled well and the Element proved again (for the hundreth time) why it is such a versatile vehicle. It was very easy to haul the yak (with my $50 home-made rack and $2 foam noodle padding) and all the accessories with loads of room to spare. I can't wait for next weekend and another trip on the water......
My new kayak
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Margaret, sorry about the slow response. I wanted to do a comprehensive post on my "high-end redneck rack" in the rack section but haven't gotten to it yet. Here are a few photos of the components and the final product....
Let me know if you have any questions.
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Thanks tlement. Great Job! Very inventive. There's a lot of do-it-yourselfers with Elements so be sure to share the pictures with the others on that rack section.
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Kayaking is fun !
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I got two yaks on my element for this weekend :smile:
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I don't know??? I have been doing it this way for 5 years, and have no marks anywhere....well I got a dent on the door, but thats it...but that was from a car door hitting it...
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You must be doing it right then. My dad & I put a canoe on the roof of his car in a similar fashion & ended up losing all sorts of paint off the hood & roof.
I haven't been able to figure out the best way to tie on myself. I'm very afraid of leaving strap marks (black paint is sooo forgiving). So I haven't been tying to the bumpers, I've been tying to the rack base. For the 2 seasons I've done it that way, I've had zero problems, but if the rack mounts would ever break off the top of the car, that would be.......um.... not so good
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Strap Burns on the Hood / Rear Hatch
Likely only a problem with shorter kayaks, never had any contact with our 16 1/2 and 17 1/2 footers. We also have a bug shield so there is no direct contact with the hood. For the rear I attach strips from recycled magnetic signs.
Likely only a problem with shorter kayaks, never had any contact with our 16 1/2 and 17 1/2 footers. We also have a bug shield so there is no direct contact with the hood. For the rear I attach strips from recycled magnetic signs.
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My canoe is just under 14 feet. When topped right in the middle of my rack, my bow tie-down sits at an acute enough angle to rub at the very end of the hood.
Picked up some pipe-wrap at Home Depot
http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?D=974728&Ntt=974728&catalogId=10051&langId=-15&storeId=10051&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntx=mode+matchall&recN=0&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber
Picked up some pipe-wrap at Home Depot
http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?D=974728&Ntt=974728&catalogId=10051&langId=-15&storeId=10051&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntx=mode+matchall&recN=0&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber
fender bolt straps
these are what I use to easily tie my canoes down in front and so far no paint issues.
http://store.springcreek.com/Vehicle-Racks/Blocks-amp-Straps/Top-Ties-p1373.html
just remove a fender bolt, slip this under, and put the bolt back in. You flip them out the side of the hood when needed and leave them folded under when they are not.
You can also make them easy enough with some old webbing and a grommet kit from Home Depot.
these are what I use to easily tie my canoes down in front and so far no paint issues.
http://store.springcreek.com/Vehicle-Racks/Blocks-amp-Straps/Top-Ties-p1373.html
just remove a fender bolt, slip this under, and put the bolt back in. You flip them out the side of the hood when needed and leave them folded under when they are not.
You can also make them easy enough with some old webbing and a grommet kit from Home Depot.
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