Kayak on PUP Roof

[NS Canuck]

I am in the process of making three 'stitch 'n glue' kayaks.  These are beautiful boats (and light).  All three will be about 60 lbs. total.  Anyone out there have any ideas about how to secure these to the roof of the PUP without wrecking anything?  I don't want to buy an elaborate (and expensive) carrier.  I'd prefer ideas on how to build something.  My initial thought is to place a couple of boards with wedges to seat the boats in across the front and rear of the pup and strap them into place using the frame somehow.  Then secure the kayaks to these boards.  Somebody out there must have built something like this for carrying kayaks or canoes.

[wavery]

I am in the process of making three 'stitch 'n glue' kayaks.  These are beautiful boats (and light).  All three will be about 60 lbs. total.  Anyone out there have any ideas about how to secure these to the roof of the PUP without wrecking anything?  I don't want to buy an elaborate (and expensive) carrier.  I'd prefer ideas on how to build something.  My initial thought is to place a couple of boards with wedges to seat the boats in across the front and rear of the pup and strap them into place using the frame somehow.  Then secure the kayaks to these boards.  Somebody out there must have built something like this for carrying kayaks or canoes.

Before I got a Pick-up with a camper shell, I used to put our kayak right on top of the PU. I just used a closed cell foam pad on either end, where it rests on the top. I put restraining straps to the rear bumper and another set to the trailer tongue.

Wit 3 kayaks, you may have an issue if you have an AC unit on the roof.

[NS Canuck]

Before I got a Pick-up with a camper shell, I used to put our kayak right on top of the PU. I just used a closed cell foam pad on either end, where it rests on the top. I put restraining straps to the rear bumper and another set to the trailer tongue.

Wit 3 kayaks, you may have an issue if you have an AC unit on the roof.

Thanks Wavery, no AC.  I live in Nova Scotia - it does get warm by times in Atlantic Canada, but not for long enough to warrant a chiller.  Your suggestion would work great for one boat, but with three, I'll have to find a way to bind them down across the PUP.

[flyfisherman]

Thanks Wavery, no AC.  I live in Nova Scotia - it does get warm by times in Atlantic Canada, but not for long enough to warrant a chiller.  Your suggestion would work great for one boat, but with three, I'll have to find a way to bind them down across the PUP.

I use the foam blocks for my canoes. Usually take only one of the canoes at a time. What I do is tie the canoe down fore & aft, and then I run a line under the camper (use parachute cord with an over-hand loop tied on each end) and then connect to an ajustable tie-down strap that has a hook on each end, which connects to parachute cord loops. In other words, the canoe is not attached just to the roof of the PU, but the entire PU itself. If a big enough gust gets hold of the canoe, it will have to take the entire PU with it!


Fly

[wavery]

Thanks Wavery, no AC.  I live in Nova Scotia - it does get warm by times in Atlantic Canada, but not for long enough to warrant a chiller.  Your suggestion would work great for one boat, but with three, I'll have to find a way to bind them down across the PUP.

I have carried 2 at a time and I do have AC..... It's just a matter of securing the load so that it can't slide, side-to-side, fore & aft and/or up & down. Just tie the outside kayaks to the center of the trailer tongue (forward) and rear bumper bumper and  and straight down. The center kayak to the outside of the trailer. When I tie ours down, the rubber blocks keep it from sliding fore & aft.

The width of our roof is 90" (7 1/2'). Our kayak is 30" wide (wider than most). 3 of ours would fit perfectly.

Only the ends of our kayak touch the roof. The design of yours may be different but that would just mean that you would need thicker pad, to be sure that the kayak doesn't touch the roof.