Hello, I am doing some research on what type of system to use, to enable me to load/unload a 130 lb. sailboat on and off my honda element by myself. I will be buying a laser sailboat and need to get this done first. I have the basic roof-rack I need to buy (probably from coliesails of New Jersey---very helpful--ask for Colby)but before I "rack" my brains and do a 'self-design' I would like to hear from anyone with any knowledge of the existence of such an attachment to a roof rack. I suppose I envision something that would enable me to ratchet the sailboat onto the roof rack (after positioning the boat in a vertical position , resting on the 'aft' of my suv (a feat in itself!!). The poor boat would, though, go thru some stress...not too good... I briefly went to a 'product-review' site and saw a few posts from bikers, who seem to have this contraption that hangs from the back of their vehicle. I really don't understand it...... Any info would be appreciated Thanks Ray Miami Beach
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Is this really worth it?
I went thru the same calculations to be able to cartop my Sunfish. In the end, I did something I said I would never do: I bought a trailer. More expensive, sure, but so much easier.
I went thru the same calculations to be able to cartop my Sunfish. In the end, I did something I said I would never do: I bought a trailer. More expensive, sure, but so much easier.
Take a look at a "roller loader"
Is a framed system of wheels that are mounted at the far aft portion of the roof. You essentially lift the bow of the boat to roller, walk back to the stern, partly lift and push the boat along the wheels until its located onto your 'roof rack'. My slightly built wife uses such a system to load a farily heavy kayak onto a Thule roof rack on a Subaru Forrester. Just keep your back straight when lifting and rolling. A boat so supported would only need 75# of "lift" to get it onto the roof, since the other 'end' is either on the ground or on the loader. If you're handy you could easly build one yourself. www.rollerloader.com
Is a framed system of wheels that are mounted at the far aft portion of the roof. You essentially lift the bow of the boat to roller, walk back to the stern, partly lift and push the boat along the wheels until its located onto your 'roof rack'. My slightly built wife uses such a system to load a farily heavy kayak onto a Thule roof rack on a Subaru Forrester. Just keep your back straight when lifting and rolling. A boat so supported would only need 75# of "lift" to get it onto the roof, since the other 'end' is either on the ground or on the loader. If you're handy you could easly build one yourself. www.rollerloader.com
roof loader
I build one for a friend that he used to put a row boat on the roof of his van. the way it worked is that it had two rails per side, one that was mounted(removeable) to the van, and another that used inline skate wheels to slide along on those tracks untill it was halfway off, then it would tip down and set the stern on the ground, the slides sat against the bumper and was held upright in his case he made up a two wheel cart using plastic 20" bicycle wheels that strapped under the boat so he could walk it into the water. it worked simply and he used it all the time to go fishing, he could load/unload it faster than I could, and I was 20 years yiounger, and built the thing! critical points to measure are the length and breadth of the boat, so you know how far the slider needs to travel to balance the load, the distance to the top of the roof so you know where to stop and til, and how heavy the boat is I thought that I may need to install a hand winch or pulley for him to stand the boat up and let it down (he was an old 63) but he managed it easily I may still have the Idea outlines I drew up, I don't make drawings, sketch out the rough idea and start building, designing as I go, but they're stuck in old notebooks and not filed. ken.
I build one for a friend that he used to put a row boat on the roof of his van. the way it worked is that it had two rails per side, one that was mounted(removeable) to the van, and another that used inline skate wheels to slide along on those tracks untill it was halfway off, then it would tip down and set the stern on the ground, the slides sat against the bumper and was held upright in his case he made up a two wheel cart using plastic 20" bicycle wheels that strapped under the boat so he could walk it into the water. it worked simply and he used it all the time to go fishing, he could load/unload it faster than I could, and I was 20 years yiounger, and built the thing! critical points to measure are the length and breadth of the boat, so you know how far the slider needs to travel to balance the load, the distance to the top of the roof so you know where to stop and til, and how heavy the boat is I thought that I may need to install a hand winch or pulley for him to stand the boat up and let it down (he was an old 63) but he managed it easily I may still have the Idea outlines I drew up, I don't make drawings, sketch out the rough idea and start building, designing as I go, but they're stuck in old notebooks and not filed. ken.
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