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Deciding how you will transport your boat or boats is one of the most important parts of the buying process. There are many many options available for car topping or trailering your boats, each with its pros and cons.
There are several factors you should consider when deciding what system works the best for you.
In general terms, there are 4 main types of boat transport:
Foam blocks or pads are the simplest, least expensive, least secure and least versatile system of these four, but they do work fine in certain applications. They are great for occasional use on secondary roads and work well with one boat. They are not ideal for carrying multiple boats, or for frequent travel at highway speeds. Average price for a set of blocks and straps is $30-$40.
Factory installed racks typically come in two styles; side rails only, and side rail/crossbar complete sets. The side rail and crossbar complete sets are the simplest and least expensive to set up boat carriers on, as most of the major rack manufacturers now make their carriers universal to almost all crossbar types. Most carriers range from $70/boat-$200/boat.
F
or
those factory racks that come equipped only with side rails, you will need to
first get crossbars that attach to the side rails. You can then attach boat
carriers to those crossbars. This typically adds $150-$190 to the total price.
Vehicles with bare roofs can be equipped with a complete
multi sport rack system with crossbars and "feet" which clamp to the roof
and hold the crossbars in place.
This takes the place of the factory rack system mentioned above. One of the
advantages to the complete after market system is they often have higher weight
capacities than factory rack systems. The overall cost is higher because you
have to get all the rack components; with many vehicles this is the only safe
option for car topping boats. Generally your costs to fully equip a vehicle with
rack and carrier for 1-2 boats will range $250-$550 total. Thule is one
of the major manufacturers, and is our preferred line.
The type of boat carrier you attach to your rack is another area with many options. Most folks start out needing to carry one boat, though many will soon see the need to carry more. For a single canoe or sit on top kayak, generally all that is needed are a pair of straps and some pads on the crossbars to protect the boat and make it easier to load.
For one sit inside kayak, the options are a little more varied. J shaped cradles, rubber saddles and slider pads are the most common options.
J shaped cradles hold the boat on its edge very
securely, and are great for rotomolded boats. It is harder to solo load a boat
into J cradles than onto a saddle/slider pad system, especially with very tall
vehicles like pickup trucks or large SUV's. J's don't use much crossbar length,
so they are good if you are carrying multiple boats, especially longer models 13
ft or longer. We have several different models in stock, and they range from
$89-$150/boat.
Saddles and saddle/slider pad combinations are an
excellent choice for folks with taller vehicles, if you
frequently are loading and unloading by yourself, or have less inclination or
ability to lift boats easily. They usually consist of sticky rubber
saddles on the front crossbar and rotating slider pads on the rear crossbar.
This system works by lifting the boat bow onto the rear crossbar and engaging
the slider pads. You can then slide the boat forward into position and drop it
onto the sticky rubber saddles. Once strapped down securely, this is a very easy
and stable system for carrying boats. Sometimes folks will substitute another
set of sticky rubber saddles for the slider pads on the back crossbar.
They do take up more crossbar length than J cradles, and require a bit more set
up time, but they easy to use. These systems cost $140-$300/boat.
For the ultimate in ease, there are several assisted lift carrier systems on the market as well. Thule produces a model called the Hullavator, and Malone has a new model which should be available in the spring of 2007.Most of these either rely on gas shocks or a ratcheting system to help lift the boat into position. In essence, the rack slides out away from your roof and then drops down to around waist height. You load the boat in and strap it down, then unlock the carrier. As you push up on the carrier, the gas shocks engage and carry much of the boats weight up until you can slide it back into position on the crossbars where it locks down. These systems are expensive, but for very high vehicles or those with minimal lifting desire or ability, they are the gateway to paddling more easily.
Trailers
More and more people are recognizing the benefits and convenience of trailers. There are many lightweight, well made and reasonably priced trailer models available, and they do double duty as a storage rack for the boats after you are finished using them. Your vehicle must be equipped with a trailer hitch and wiring harness either at the factory or as an after market modification. This can be done easily at many reputable auto repair shops.
Many of the newer vehicles with highly aerodynamic rooflines simply cannot safely carry a roof rack, and for folks with multiple boats, trailers can be an affordable alternative to purchasing a $4000 ultra lightweight easily lifted carbon fiber kayak or canoe. Many sailboats and dinghies are too large and heavy to be lifted onto roofs, and trailering those boats is simple and easy. The size ranges of trailers we deal with also have the advantage of not decreasing your gas mileage appreciably, while racks with crossbars usually will.
Trailex makes a line of lightweight aluminum trailers which come in several models ideal for kayaks, canoes, dinghies and small sailboats. Costs start around $900 for a single place trailer, and increase to about $1500 for a 4 place trailer, with several intermediate steps in cost and configuration.
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SUT 200-S SUT- 250-2BC SUT-500-M2
A 4 place modified Trailex trailer carrying 6 boats. This trailer logged 1700 highway miles in 8 days and the boats barely shifted at all!