Loading a kayak

[domhart10]

So I purchased a 2 person kayak and thought I would go all out on an expedition one and very durable ... little did I know, that these things are incredibly heavy!!!!

Used once so far after loading it I have given up hope even trying to attempt and do it myself. So my question is, how to people load theirs? are there any assists people use that might make doing it on your own easier or atleast possible?

[green van man]

A workmate baught an inflatable one because of this problem. He recons the 10 min or so it takes to inflate and deflate are worth it to be able to fit it in the boot.

Not any help to you and the only advise I can give from experience of loading heavy items on to roof rack / bars is do one end at a time. So lift front and slide onto bars, canoe at an angle to car, lift rear and slide canoe across roof as you pivot the back end onto second bar. Slide front to align canoe with car and tie down. Removal being the reverse of fitting.

Hope that of some use.

Paul.

[Harvey1512]

My BiL has one. He is a strong blighter so he picks it up himself. I had to load it once and got someone else to help, one at each end. It was going on a smallish car, Fabia Estate, so it was quite easy to lift and put it on the roof bars. Harder if the car was long I suspect. GVM's description of how to do it probably best to follow.

I would not consider doing it alone. It is heavy and awkward, a good combination for either back damage or a scrape on your car.

[ksmi]

Evening Dom, Thinking back I seem to remember seeing something made to lift loads onto roof racks, quite a few years back, could have been in a cycling mag.? maybe for lifting tandems? If I remember correctly,the idea was to fold the gadget down the side of the car,load and secure and then back up onto main roof rack. Have you tried looking for canoeing dedicated mags and forums? I would imagine you are not alone with that problem. Apart from getting it onto the roof sounds like an excellent idea to me, traveling by water and rough/wild camping along the way?
As I am a fully paid up member of the village idiots union, I must ask,you did empty the water out first??


Regards,Keith.

[1monkey600]

Thule make extending roofracks that pull out sideways and drop down by the side of the car, if you want to spend north of £500, that is. (35 kg limit but assists by providing 18kg of lift)

https://www.thule.com/en-gb/gb/sport...r-pro-_-898000

Personally, particularly if your car has roofrails, I would look at buying a third cross bar, fix some kind of roller and upstands to it, and then fit it right at the back of the rails. You then lift up one end of the kayak onto the roller, grab other end and push the kayak through onto the usual two roofbars.

[IainG]

Hi
I use a set of 4 Thule 847 mounts. They also do an easy glide mount that allows the kayak to slide but on my roof bars it ends up at the wrong angle.
So i use 4 x 847's
on the rear pair i put a piece of the Polyprop carpet(like hippo mat)
This allows the kayak to slide on at the rear.
I made a "cushion" that sits on the roof behind the rear roof bar. and again covered with the hippo mat. This raises the level and protects the roof.
My kayak is pulled to the car on a pair of wheels.
like these
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=...25366107553633


I just wheel the kayak along the side of my car, lift the bow up onto the "cushion"on the rear roof. Remove the wheels.
The kayak just rests there.
Then go round the stern and easily lift and slide the kayak forward into the supports. the carpet on the rear mounts allow the kayak to slide easily.

My kayak is quite heavy but I find it easy and safe to load and offload on my own.
Then 2 webbing straps over the top to hold it there.

3 of us out in Plymouth

Iain

[SwissXC90]

Load like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPKIdVZLBH8

[IainG]

Hi
My mate uses those guides on suckers. They are OK but aren't that firm with a heavy kayak. He has struggled a few times with them and once they twisted enough for the kayak to scratch the car. Just to be sure we tend to load his with 2 people. With mine it is very stable and safe with no issues with any damage,
Iain

[domhart10]

thanks for that guys, yes its incredibly heavy without water. I managed to pick it up myself and being a man of fitness I relished the challange but after about a 10 second walk with it I quickly realised this was a really silly idea.

But yes I do have a kayak trolley for it now to run along the beach.

Thank you for all those link! that thule one looked incredible but bit out of my price range. I will keep on looking around at loaders, I saw something like this which might be useful

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RUK-Sport...kAAOSwPPpaOb~-

I have the kayak stand that stands the thing on its side.

[biggbn]

I used to love canoeing, had two sea canoes, both built by my dad. I doubt i would even fit in one these days😢