Kayaks on hardtop

[Ductboy]

I would like to carry two lightweight kayaks on the hardtop of my express style boat. The hardtop is strong enough to walk on and provides a good flat spot to store two kayaks running fore to aft.

I have several questions:

1. Has anyone else done this, and what have you used to protect the hardtop? I'm thinking of using the foam pieces that Thule sells that mount on the bars.

2. What did you fasten down to? I have hand rails that run the length of the top, they are through bolted, but I'm not sure how much pressure I fell comfortable putting on them. I plan on installing pad eyes with back up plates this winter.

3. What do you tie down with? I found a company that makes custom SS ratchet straps or cam style straps. Is cam style enough, or is ratchet preferred? The ratchet straps put a lot more pressure on the tie down point (hand rail)

4. My radar dome sits low on the hardtop. The kayaks sit on either side of the dome. Will this interfere with the radars performance.

Thanks
Dan

 

[32carv]

I'm not sure about the strapping down part, would have to see a pic of the top of your boat. Make sure they are upside down if it is going to rain. You could use two or three noodles to keep it from scratching. I believe the radar will do what is designed to do, it will show two kayaks driving over the top of you.
Jim

 

[CurrentSea]

I see lots of boats by me doing this.
My only concern is how far over the hardtop will they extend.
Reason I say that is if they get alot of wind under them then they will lift up and put alot of pressure on the top.
Your concern is downward pressure and that is minimized with the light kayak but if they lift up then it's like pulling the hardtop away from it's attachments.

As for mounting, the noodle is a great idea. Cheap.

Radar I have been told does not see things close and actually bends. I have seen guys with sat dishes mounted next to radar and they say they don't see anything on their radar.

Another thing you may not like depending on your straps is the vibration.
As an ex surfer I can tell you when we put boards on top of the car the straps would hum and vibrate.

 

[Sandy]

"Another thing you may not like depending on your straps is the vibration.
As an ex surfer I can tell you when we put boards on top of the car the straps would hum and vibrate."

If you twist the straps they are less likely to hum and vibrate.

 

[Ductboy]

Thanks everyone, I bought 4 foam blocks and had some straps made up with SS cam buckles. We'll see how this works for the remainder of the season.

Dan