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wpicotte
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012
Posts: 32
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 Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:41 am Post subject: Pop-Top Protection |
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I frequently carry a kayak on my roof rack, and have created wear spots in the fiberglass at the rear of the pop top from loading / unload. The wear spots are right on the rounded corner where the panel curves down to the rear edge.
I'm trying to come up with a protective solution. I've considered things like ClearBra or the 3M sheets, but the repeated wear of the kayak (especially with a little sand on the hull) will go right through that.
I've also considered epoxying a flexible, teflon type material (like the thin cutting boards) to that bend. I don't know if that would hold up any better.
Any ideas / thoughts / similar solutions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:52 am Post subject: Re: Pop-Top Protection |
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figure out how to get a rear load bar back there.
maybe some load assist rollers too.
but a cross pipe with some jute rope will last a long time and remove all wear from the top..
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wpicotte
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:03 am Post subject: Re: Pop-Top Protection |
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| I could mount another crossbar, but not a top preference, as I have three installed already. |
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space
Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2017
Posts: 673
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:05 am Post subject: Re: Pop-Top Protection |
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Ive been looking for something myself
My Kayaks are 70lbs per
Let me know what u find
T
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82 westy
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dschaftlein
Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2016
Posts: 105
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 12:11 pm Post subject: Re: Pop-Top Protection |
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I use the Yakima boat loader for my canoe and kayaks. Works great, Much simpler to load a canoe with one person than two!
https://yakima.com/products/boatloader |
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wpicotte
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 12:17 pm Post subject: Re: Pop-Top Protection |
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Ah that's interesting. You have one installed in each crossbar? Do you first set the boat on the boat loaders entirely (i.e. they support the boat's weight) and into the saddles or whatever you're using? |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6243
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 12:33 pm Post subject: Re: Pop-Top Protection |
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I used Yakima rollers on my rear bar to load kayaks. Kept it off the roof.
Maybe there's a temporary solution? Lots of products like this on line.
https://www.outdoorplay.com/racks/kayak-racks/rollers
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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fishgo
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2018
Posts: 127
Location: Madison, WI
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 12:50 pm Post subject: Re: Pop-Top Protection |
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| wpicotte wrote: |
Ah that's interesting. You have one installed in each crossbar? Do you first set the boat on the boat loaders entirely (i.e. they support the boat's weight) and into the saddles or whatever you're using? |
I use that too, but just on the front crossbar. Put the bow up there, swing the rear of the kayak up on the crossbars, wiggle into place, and strap down. Put a safety strap (very short) right to a tie-down strap on the luggage rack. Easy. |
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wpicotte
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2012
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 12:53 pm Post subject: Re: Pop-Top Protection |
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| fishgo wrote: |
| wpicotte wrote: |
Ah that's interesting. You have one installed in each crossbar? Do you first set the boat on the boat loaders entirely (i.e. they support the boat's weight) and into the saddles or whatever you're using? |
I use that too, but just on the front crossbar. Put the bow up there, swing the rear of the kayak up on the crossbars, wiggle into place, and strap down. Put a safety strap (very short) right to a tie-down strap on the luggage rack. Easy. |
Yep - read a couple reviews from people who recognized the need for only one of these after the fact, mounting a boat exactly as you have described. Mine arrives Friday. Thanks for the idea. |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32586
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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SCM
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 3115
Location: Bozeman MT
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| Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2021 9:36 am Post subject: Re: Pop-Top Protection |
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| wpicotte wrote: |
Yep - read a couple reviews from people who recognized the need for only one of these after the fact, mounting a boat exactly as you have described. Mine arrives Friday. Thanks for the idea. |
You'll love it. I've been using one ever since I first bought my van and it's made it so my canoe loads onto the van more easily than any of my other vehicles.
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MsTaboo
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 4087
Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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| Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2021 11:29 am Post subject: Re: Pop-Top Protection |
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| wpicotte wrote: |
I frequently carry a kayak on my roof rack, and have created wear spots in the fiberglass at the rear of the pop top from loading / unload. The wear spots are right on the rounded corner where the panel curves down to the rear edge.
I'm trying to come up with a protective solution. I've considered things like ClearBra or the 3M sheets, but the repeated wear of the kayak (especially with a little sand on the hull) will go right through that.
I've also considered epoxying a flexible, teflon type material (like the thin cutting boards) to that bend. I don't know if that would hold up any better.
Any ideas / thoughts / similar solutions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks |
This is what we use to load two canoes onto our Westy; the Thule "WaterSlide"
Simple and easy to use. We have light weight kevlar boats and the pad also protects them while loading.
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Thule/TH854.html
https://www.rackwarehouse.com/thule-854-water-slide-vehicle-protecting-kayak-mat.html
It rolls up into a small bundle. Works great!
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