Surfboard Rack!

[surfnc]

As some of you may know I build surfboards and surf when I get the chance. So I had to have a way to carry a board or 2 on my buggy. I wanted to make sure that it would be strong enough, resist the elements here at the beach, and be removable. So here is what I came up with.

It is 26" long and is about 2" above the windshield.

It is 2 side view mirror mounts that clamp to the buggy windshield frame. I got them from Dino at Bugshields for $10-$11 each. They are made out of aluminum and are clamped on using 2 hex key bolts.
I had my local aluminum welder/fabricator bend and weld some 1" round stock to the mounts.

I took an old windshield frame to him so he could mock it up and so the brackets would line up with the windshield perfectly.

Here is how it looks on the buggy. (Please no mention about the messy garage, it was raining when I took the pictures and I could not move the buggy outside as I would have liked to)

I will put the rack pads on later, but that is how it will work. You could also use pipe insulation to pad the windshield bar and the "roll bar" to keep the board from getting dinged. I will use bungie cords to keep it from flying off. You could use it to carry other things like a kayak, canoe ,or even some 2x4s back from Home Depot.

I did have to lower the seats 2" so I would not hit my head on the board while driving.

The total cost including the mounts was $70, maybe a bit pricey but I will be able to use it for many many years and I will now be able to take the buggy when I go surfing!

**It can be used with groove forward or groove backward windshield frames.**

[SCOOPER]

I like it, the surf board really adds character to the buggy. I don't surf, (don't live anywhere near anyplace I could), but I'd like to do that just for shows. Clever idea...

[engineerorange]

I would love to have one of those. How about I vacation at OBX this year and pick one up, and you can teach me to make a board and surf. I am not sure what I could offer in return though. Maybe help on one of your other buggy projects?

[EMPIImp69]

Yea that's a sweet invention there. good job.
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1963 Ragtop Bug

[90volts]

very nice! i second the obx thing. i'll pick one up when i come down!

[sturgeongeneral]

Way cool dude! It also fits into the 70s era look.
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In honor of bowtie56jw:Another victim of the nasty "C" Praying for ya Jeff!

My exwife said if I towed home one more bug she would leave me. You know, every once in a while I miss her

[Glassy Guy]

Looks great. I live in So Cal and am a surfer and also building a buggy. I was thinking what to do to about mounting my board. That's kind of what I was planning. Thank you so much for sharing you ideas. I can't wait to get my buggy finished.

[RaythO]

where did you get that rear view mirror?/ I want to buy one for my buddies buggy?
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[surfnc]

Coop
Thanks, how are the Manxes doing?

engineerorange
You are welcome any time to help with my next project. Your buggy looks awesome and you should be very proud.

EMPIImp69,
Thanks for the kind words, as well as the "Glassmaster" comment.

90volts,
Let me know when you are coming down, I can set up some lessons and board building classes for you and engineerorange.

RaythO,
I got the mirror from here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SURF-BOARD-rear-vie...enameZWD1V thanks to jspbtown.

Anyone who is interested in a rack, PM me and I will see if I can get a quantity discount.

[darkdune]

man thats a great idea, can you fab me up one, i waterski, and would like to be able to attach my waterski the same way as the surfboard

how much
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60 percent of the time it works every time.

[SCOOPER]

Vince...Been accumuling parts and knowledge, hope to get the body off the Florida one this weekend, start building the new chassis. Put me down for one of those surf bars if you do go into production...

Coop

[Zcarnut]

Nice Manx Vince..Where did you find that?
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[SiggyManx#33]

I would love to apply the same idea to a nice, removable lightbar.

[surfnc]

Siggy
I have something like that in the works. I was thinking about making a bar that would work with a top on (soft/hard). Instead of attaching to the top of the frame it would attach to the sides kind of like the bars that go on Jeep CJs or Wranglers. I just need to come up with something for the back bar.

[SiggyManx#33]

I totally agree with the side mounting although I'm not sure what you mean by the back bar?

If you make such an animal, let me know and I'll definately help you offset costs.

[surfnc]

The back bar would be what I would use to hold the board instead of the "roll bar" since it would be covered by the top.

For a light bar I would need to know how many lights and how far apart you would like them spaced. I would have some tabs welded to the bar in those places. You could then drill the tabs to hold the lights of your choice and drill some holes to run your wiring. How would you make it removable wiring wise? Would use have a quick disconnect at the bar itself, or would you have a pig tail that ran down the windshield frame to a switch or disconnect under the dash?

[SiggyManx#33]

So the back bar would only be for a surfboard application?

For the lightbar I would just like 4 forward and maybe room for a small one pointing back. (not sure how useful that would be mounted on the front shield)

I would run the wires down the passenger side windshield and pigtail it under the dash.

I would possibly be interested in a whole rack while we are at it..... even though I have a hard top on it's way? ah, maybe not.

If it's a possibility, let me know a price when the time comes.

[nosehairdreadlocks]

Hope you wear slip on Vans when you drive around like that...

[dan macmillan]

[Endoboy]