Malone Sea Wing Carrier

Works!!!

Mmmm ... blackened albacore taco salad!!!  Hope to see some more recipes in our "Recipes" forum.

-Allen

My problem exactly.
Right now I just cover my crossbars with pipe insulation, flip the yak upside down, and strap it on.

TXPaddler, You say you didn't like the stackers with round bars, and a wide boat. What about on factory oval bars with pipe insulation? Do you think this would make much of a difference?

I know I have put both my wife's Ocean Kayak Venus and my WS Ride on top of her Audi A4 wagon. So I just went out and measured the crossbar. We are using 58" bars. so maybe that's why it was never a problem for us either with the hully rollers or just the crossbar (Think I even got a bike up there once in addition). Oh, and no I have never banged my head getting in or out of the car. It does not look or feel like the bars extend out too far.

As to the Stackers those were the ones I bought first (about nine years ago) and I can't remember why I never really got comfortable with them? I wouldn't say don't try them, they just never were right for me. One thing I seem to remember being inconvenient about them is getting straps pulled over the 34" of the width of my kayak turned sideways while simultaneously keeping the kayak balanced on its side on top of the car and if you are stacking two kayaks it was more difficult but I am sure folks on this site have overcome those challenges. I just moved on to the "J style" hull raisers pretty quickly and then eventually just the padded bars.

With short bars, nothing wrong with laying one edge of a kayak over the other kayak.  It works ok, BTDT.

-Allen

With short bars, nothing wrong with laying one edge of a kayak over the other kayak.  It works ok, BTDT.

-Allen

How does this work? Do you strap the boats down individually?

With short bars, nothing wrong with laying one edge of a kayak over the other kayak.  It works ok, BTDT.

-Allen

How does this work? Do you strap the boats down individually?

Strap one down upside down and flat, out to one edge of the bars.  Hoist the other one up on the other edge, upside down and leaning up over the first one.  Strap it down.  It helps to have a 2nd person to hold the 2nd kayak so it doesn't slide off while you are securing it.

-Allen

Since we're on this topic, I've found that the Yakima Mako saddles work best for me. They have these rubber inserts in the saddles that grip the yak when you cinch the straps tight. It let's you strap your yak down securely with less force.

Z

Since we're on this topic, I've found that the Yakima Mako saddles work best for me. They have these rubber inserts in the saddles that grip the yak when you cinch the straps tight. It let's you strap your yak down securely with less force.

Z

Saddles were my original thought, but for me it comes back to short bars and wide boats once again. I almost bought a set when the Fish 'N' Dive fell out of the J rack, but the bare rack seemed to work out so well.

PolePole, how do the boats ride like that. So far I like this Idea best, followed by the stackers. When it comes to pricey roof racks that are easily stolen while I'm on the water, I really like the idea of less is more.

.......is liking my foam pads and ratchet straps mo better ever day  cause of this thread.. bad back be damned

PolePole, how do the boats ride like that. So far I like this Idea best, followed by the stackers. When it comes to pricey roof racks that are easily stolen while I'm on the water, I really like the idea of less is more.

It's not something I do very often.  I have enough bar on my roof to be able to hold 2 kayaks upside down.  But I've done it in a pinch when carpooling with others and have never had a problem.

-Allen

I think I'm going to try the stackers. Pretty simple/affordable, and I can lay them down after I offload the boats so they don't stand out while I'm on the water.

Hello name is Chuck I’m jumping into the Fishing Kayak Realm…. I will be buying my gear with-in the next couple of weeks!
First off I need an economical way of securing my soon to be Yak (ok trident) on my stock roof rack on my 1998 Ford Explorer.
I liked what TX said.
I saw this add while contemplating the Icom 34? 36 or 72?  Are all of these submersible?
Anyway is this safe and will it work with my Ford?
Here is the URL:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/270260/377%20710%20894/712//Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/10/0?N=377 710 894&Ne=712&Ntt=&Ntx=mode matchallpartial&page=CategoryDisplayLevel1&Nr=AND(Record Type:PRODUCT,Store:WESTMARINE)&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5005&subdeptNum=10&classNum=11662

Thanks,
Chuck

I currently use that exact rack kit on my Highlander.  It works ok IMO, but it's a bit cumbersome without the bars extending out.  I'm talking about loading it by yourself.  You literally have to lift the kayak up and away from yourself and hope you don't drop it on the car.  I keep meaning to upgrade to a real rack, but haven't yet, so it's not that bothersome to me that I've rushed out and fixed it.

I have a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer up in Seattle that I hope to drive down to CA in November.  It has a set of Yakima bars on it that I may be parting with.  They'd probably fit your Explorer.  But that won't be until November and I don't know exactly what weekend I can make it up there yet.

I think all those Icoms you listed are submersible.  The 34 and 36 float.

-Allen

First off I need an economical way of securing my soon to be Yak (ok trident) on my stock roof rack on my 1998 Ford Explorer.

Welcome aboard!

As long as you have crossbars, it doesn't get more economical and secure than some pipe insulation and zip ties. I just flip my boat upside down and strap it down with a set of ratchet straps, and a set of these http://www.roperatchet.com/roperatchets.shtml as a bow/stern lines. Just wrap your bars with the pipe insulation to both help grip, and pad your boat.

First off I need an economical way of securing my soon to be Yak (ok trident) on my stock roof rack on my 1998 Ford Explorer.

As long as you have crossbars, it doesn't get more economical and secure than some pipe insulation and zip ties. I just flip my boat upside down and strap it down with a set of ratchet straps, and a set of these http://www.roperatchet.com/roperatchets.shtml as a bow/stern lines. Just wrap your bars with the pipe insulation to both help grip, and pad your boat.

Not always true with factory racks as they ride too low and you can end up scratching the roof of your car.  DAMHIK.

-Allen

I currently use that exact rack kit on my Highlander.  It works ok IMO, but it's a bit cumbersome without the bars extending out.  I'm talking about loading it by yourself.  You literally have to lift the kayak up and away from yourself and hope you don't drop it on the car.  I keep meaning to upgrade to a real rack, but haven't yet, so it's not that bothersome to me that I've rushed out and fixed it.

I have a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer up in Seattle that I hope to drive down to CA in November.  It has a set of Yakima bars on it that I may be parting with.  They'd probably fit your Explorer.  But that won't be until November and I don't know exactly what weekend I can make it up there yet.

I think all those Icoms you listed are submersible.  The 34 and 36 float.

-Allen


I'm considering it....I'm thinking of purchasing the Thule 881 top deck system, would need to research to see if they would fit? What would you let the bars go for?

Chuck