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View Full Version : Boat loader roof racks, any ideas ?



Dug
02-05-2009, 04:32 PM
We have a little 10' Walker Bay boat

http://www.familyboats.com.au/newboats/walkerbay/wbrid.html

that I would like to carry on the roof of the rodeo.

The boat weighs 68kg and the canopy says it will support 75kg but I am thinking some internal strengthening support bars may not be a bad idea for longer trips over rough roads.

Apart from lashing out about $3,000 for a store bought auto wind boat loader roof rack thingy does anyone have any ideas for a roller roof rack that one person could winch, push or pull a little boat onto ?

I was thinking about getting some polyurethane boat rollers and making a custom rear bar out of tube steel but never having seen one I do not want to make something that does not work !

GBC
04-05-2009, 10:15 AM
What canopy have you got Dug?
Most have an internal frame system as an option - I see you got a demo so maybe the canopy manufacturer can help you.
I've got a flexiglass canopy with the tradesman's racks and internal frame.
Being a styleside the racks aren't long enough to put my tinny on, so I cut some galv uni-strut to 1500mm and installed that in place of the racks (same stuff as rhino rack)
I carry a clark 366 tinny up there - and have carried the same boat on my last two canopies - no worries.

Just another hint - I had a rear roller on my last rack, and the thing was a pita for single handed loading/unloading - when trying to lift the stern off the ground, you had to prevent the whole boat from sliding back down again, so it made the boat heavier (not really, but I hope you get my drift). Rhino sell roller extensions for their racks in any shop that stocks their stuff if you want them though.

Jump onto the flexiglass site to see their internal frame.