Bike rack?

[bcollis]

I'd like to carry two adult mountain bikes, and two small kids bikes with me on a four day trip. What's the best way to manage this on an 88 Hunter 30? I don't care about rust or corrosion. Is there a four bike rack that someone has managed to fabricate or adapt to your stern rail? Should I strap them to the mast or to a lifeline post?

I understand that foldable bikes are a better bet, but I can't see purchasing four of them.

Thanks for any input,

Brian

 

[Ed Schenck]

What do you have on the stern Brian? Any of the inexpensive four bike trunk racks could be adapted I think. My Yakima trailer hitch mount rack would also work on the stern. I would need to fabricate the rail clamps and just use the top section. Four bikes is too much for inside the lifelines.

 

[Tim R.]

My wife and I do a lot of mountain biking and have always thought it would be great to take our bikes along while cruising. Fabricating a rack would not be very difficult. Getting them to shore in a 10 ft. RIB is what I worry about.

 

[Benny17441]

While you are figuring out how to install a 4 bicycle rack in the stern also figure out how you are going to get those bikes on and off the rack. If it were me and just for four days I would tie the mountain bikes each to the port and starboard stern quarters rail stanchions and lifelines and the kid's bikes on the cabin top. Bungees will do the trick. Carry a lock and chain to leave them at dockside wherever you are going.

 

[All U Get]

Hi Bcollis,
On out Catalina 30 we towed kayaks with the dingy until one took a nose-dive into the stern wave, took an hour to pump it out and get it onboard whilst my wife was at the helm. We finally put the whole mess on the bow. Used the Kayaks twice in two weeks, but had a great time. On the return I tied the kayaks on top of the dingy and it towed OK. I wouldn't suggest this to anyone unless they had been drinking plenty of rum.
All U Get
PS We're the small boat in front of the windjammers that everyone had to take a picture of.

 

[thinwater]

Do you need 4 bikes? It depends on where you are going, but it might make sense to rent some of them. For eg., you can rent them on Tangier and most marinas have loaners for free.

Our solution for 2 bikes:
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-to-carry-bicycles-without-origami.html
Just a thrift store bike rack that I cut and modified to fit over the stern rail. Side rails will be a problem docking.

Getting then to shore in a inflatable is not hard; we throw old towels over the tubes and take no more than 2 each trip. Only the driver, no passengers.

-------------------------

We go through Solomons most years, with bikes on the back, often on the way around the Delmarva. There is a lot of stuff on my blog about the Chesapeake.

 

[bcollis]

The stern is a walk thru, no rail seats. I have put one bike ok the steps, but yes, it makes it tough to get into the dink with just one there.

Looking at the car trunk type racks, I may be able to make that work with the two rails at the stern, off to one side. If it were adjustable enough, maybe the wheels wouldn't ge dunked on a heel. I have no idea how I'd make the tow hitch type work.

 

[bcollis]

I hadn't thought I renting, but I'd guess that most marinas won't have a bike for a 6 year old. Still, a call ahead might make for less gear onboard.

Even so, maybe the better call would be two racks, one on each side, with an adult and kids bike on each.?

 

[Bad Obsession]

If you are going to marinas a lot of them have bikes you can use. That is a bit of weight to put on the stern of the boat. On the Chesapeake Bay it is VERY common for the marinas to have bikes you can use. That may be a good bet as they are usually free to use if you are in a slip.

Call ahead to the destinations that you plan to go and talk to the marinas that you may stay in. This could save you some money and a lot of work.

Keep an eye out for used folding bikes in the future. Sometimes you get a goo deal.

 

[thinwater]

Exactly. They will have only adult bikes.

I hadn't thought I renting, but I'd guess that most marinas won't have a bike for a 6 year old. Still, a call ahead might make for less gear onboard.

Even so, maybe the better call would be two racks, one on each side, with an adult and kids bike on each.?

I was figuring the kids bikes would be easier to store, too.

On a prior (smaller) boat I would take only a Razor scooter. Supprisingly practical, even for adults, and good for kids, when bikes are not practical.

-------

We generally only need 2 bikes, since my wife cannot ride and I have only one child. If she takes a friend we may need 3; I rent, borrow from marina, or keep my wife company. I could carry 3 but don't try to.

 

[Don12364]

My Solution

Not exactly for mountain bikes but it takes a couple of folders (not folded).

The rack simply attaches to two 2" diameter alum disks I screwed to the transom using a couple of wing bolts. The bikes are retained by a wing bolt through a pedal on each bike and into the central bracket. They are quick to get on and off.
The rack is all alum and can hang on the garage wall when not in use complete with bikes.
The rack folds and, together with bikes, goes into my Lexus trunk.
The bikes can stay on the transom all season if necessary as they don't seem to get salt spray.

 

[RECESS]

On a prior (smaller) boat I would take only a Razor scooter. Supprisingly practical, even for adults, and good for kids, when bikes are not practical.

I looked at the Razor e300s. It looks nice and the handle bars fold almost flat. It is nice that it has a deatable seat also. I think at $250 for a powered scooter that folds away, it looks like it may be in our future. Too much going on right now but it does look nice.

 

[bcollis]

Looks like I'll be scouring the thrift stores, Craigslist and eBay for a bike rack deal. If not, then maybe a home built will be the call. Thanks everyone for your input.

Brian

 

[LloydB]

Four bikes hanging by their front wheels from a length of 1" emt conduit out from your stern rail and the other end held up by a topping lift. you didn't say racing or heavy weather so wouldn't expect an extra 75 pounds would be a problem for your rigging but I don't know. I think it might not look slick but but it should work OK with an adjustable line to keep the outboard end where you want it. refinements could be added

 

[jibes138]

I have used a car bike rack that mounts on the back of an SUV with straps that connect to the window and padded rest that sits on the tailgait and some more straps that go to the bumper. It worked good on the stern, I connected the window straps to the stern pulpit rested the rack directly against the stern and tied off the lower straps to the swim ladded and step on the swim platform. The problem was while sailing the bikes would often drag in the salt water when a large wave lifted the stern or while heeled. Salt water and mechanical gears, bearings, and derailers don't mix very well. Still a good spray with WD40 or similar and a wash down with fresh water once at destination and good to go. You can also consider a 10 dollar tag sale bike that you just leave there once your trip is over. It is cheaper than renting one. The rental bikes are usually pretty bad bikes.

 

[Kings Gambit]

I can't image sailing somewhere in a 30' (or even larger) boat w/ four aboard and 4 bicycles strapped to various places on the boat's deck and lifelines. It presents unnecessary risk to proper handling of the boat, and is unseamanship like in the extreme, in my opinion. Forget it; come up with another plan. If you want to take bikes, then get ones that you can stow below and even then it's a problem. I have two folding bikes on the Bavaria 38 that I have difficulty finding adequate places for. Right now, they remain folded in the quarter berth out of the way of most places where I need to go, but still impair the access to the steering sheaves in case I needed to do something there. Typically, they are more trouble than they are worth to have along.

 

[Cayennita]

Hang them off the top of the split back stay. They will rest against the 2 lower parts and tie them off. Weight would not be a problem.