Kayak storage

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dave_and_dd

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Apr 13, 2015
157
Catalina 309 Port Charlotte
My wife and I love our hobie mirage kayaks. But we haven't yet found a good way to transport them on our sailboat (Catalina 309). They are too large for the cabin top or foredeck. We've lashed them to the shrouds on the deck inside the lifelines. But that's not been good, really bulky and had big problems when tacking to keep the jib sheets clear.

I've seen those outboard racks that attach to lifeline stanchions - anybody like those? (i don't like the idea of putting that much force on the stanchions).

Anybody successful with any way of putting 2 14foot kayaks onto their davits? (don't have davits, but that might be an idea).

any other thoughts? Inquiring minds want to know....

thanks for any ideas - Dave and DD in Tampa Bay.
 
thinwater

thinwater

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Mar 26, 2011
3,677
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
I love kayaks, but my first suggestion is that you should chose lighter, simpler kayaks for cruising. I like the Mirage drive, but they are huge, heavy boats and are not suitable for this.

Get the lightest, simplest boats you can find.

14 pounds, and it deflates if I want (Airis Sport). I could stack 4 of these for the same weight and not much more space.


One problem with outboard racks, other than docking and waves, is reacher and spin sheets. That has always been a non-started for me, on other boats as well.
 
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Michael Davis

Michael Davis

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Jan 5, 2017
2,343
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
thinwater said:
One problem with outboard racks, other than docking and waves, is reacher and spin sheets.
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Have never had a problem with docking or waves, maybe our freeboard is enough to clear every dock we've been to and we seldom sail in waves of more than 2 metres. It seems every where we go is up wind so the spin. sheets haven't been a problem yet but I'll keep that in mind if we ever get the chance to fly it. Our kayaks are 35 lb so no problem yet for me.
 
D

dave_and_dd

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Apr 13, 2015
157
Catalina 309 Port Charlotte
yeah...like thinwater says above, the hobie kayaks we have are heavy. (like 80lbs each). they are really nice though...but I think for on the sailboat, we may just have to bite the bullet and get something like that inflatable. I don't want 80lbs hanging off my stanchions - i'm sure i'd be fixing the stanchions or toe-rail soon after.

no one has figured out any way to utilize davits for 2 kayaks effectively i'm guessing? I don't have davits, but if that were to work well i could invest in them. I'm thinking that even if i could find a way to crank both of them up, their length at about 12 feet would be too long for a sailboat with 11.5 ft beam. Likely dragging one portion or the other in the water if heeling much.

Dave
 
J

jeepbluetj

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Jan 18, 2016
782
Catalina 387 Dana Point
Used to use racks on the stanchions, rigged to help support the weight (which made going forward a PITA). Bent stanchions, leaks, etc...

Kayak is now a Hobie Mirage 14i inflatable. Stores below. Still a PITA to get it out, inflated, assembled, etc... But better than hard kayaks.
 
thinwater

thinwater

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Mar 26, 2011
3,677
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
Michael Davis said:
Have never had a problem with docking or waves, maybe our freeboard is enough to clear every dock we've been to and we seldom sail in waves of more than 2 metres. It seems every where we go is up wind so the spin. sheets haven't been a problem yet but I'll keep that in mind if we ever get the chance to fly it. Our kayaks are 35 lb so no problem yet for me.
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In the Chesapeake, all docking is with pilings, so no one has enough freeboard!

And get the chute out! If you have it, fly it. Otherwise, you are only half sailing.

To my mind, the Mirage boats are pickup truck kayaks, not car top and not cruising kayaks. For cruising you need light and simple. I also find paddled boats more agile around docks and marshes, and more seaworthy in rough waters in skilled hands. I'm not sure I would want a Mirage kayak out in real waves, with no brace stroke available. And I've needed to paddle in waves more than once; cruising is like that.
 
thinwater

thinwater

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Mar 26, 2011
3,677
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
Michael Davis said:
I've noticed those in lots of pictures but have never seen one in real life.
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Really? Smith Island MD. But really, everywhere around here. You don't want anything hanging off the sides, and rub rails are a plus.

 
Michael Davis

Michael Davis

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Jan 5, 2017
2,343
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
prince rupert, cow bay.jpg Prince Ruperts' Cow Bay marina. Tides almost out, the ramp will come back to level at high tide.
 
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thinwater

thinwater

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Mar 26, 2011
3,677
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
True, but that does not always get you away from pilings. I've seen lots of floating docks with pilings between slips. Second, the OP is from the land of ity bitty tides.
 
Michael Davis

Michael Davis

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Jan 5, 2017
2,343
Beneteau First 38 Lyall Harbour Saturna Island
PR 3.jpg Ours are set up so that the pilings are surrounded by the dock finger. I've not seen a piling sitting by itself in any marina on the west coast.
 
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