100lb Fishing Kayak Transportation - Roof?

[blckshirt98]

I've been looking at getting a fishing kayak but I'm paranoid about tipping over so I'm looking at the heavier duty/wider ones (i.e. Jackson Kayaks Big Rig, Old Town Predator XL) but the starting weight on these things are almost 100lbs before adding on accessories. Does anyone that own a fishing kayak load theirs onto the roof of their car (on a Thule or Yakima roof rack), or do you always tow it?  I don't have an issue with the 100lbs, but 100lbs spread out over the length of a bulky kayak might be awkward to handle, and having to get it on/off the roof of a car (would be a Subaru Forester) could be a chore.

 

Was wondering if it's not as bad as it might seem or what solutions some of you use.

[Choporoz]

Is standing important?

[J Francho]

My Commander 140 is 65 lbs. wet.

[NYWayfarer]

Chad Hoover on YouTube has a great video of his wife loading and unloading a heavy kayak by herself onto the roof of their vehicle.

 

She picks up the end walks under it until it is high enough that she can lean it on the side of the vehicle. She then grabs the end and pushes it up onto the vehicle. Then she straightens it out. Taking it off is just the reverse. They made it look easy enough.

[blckshirt98]

Standing is a little important and factored in, but mostly it's the wide base even sitting down.  I'm not a strong swimmer and even with a left jacket am kind of paranoid about ending in the drink from the wake of passing boaters, or, being caught in an unforeseen swell on a large reservoir or if inshore if I decide to take it to the ocean.

1 minute ago, NYWayfarer said:

Chad Hoover on YouTube has a great video of his wife loading and unloading a heavy kayak by herself onto the roof of their vehicle.

 

She picks up the end walks under it until it is high enough that she can lean it on the side of the vehicle. She then grabs the end and pushes it up onto the vehicle. Then she straightens it out. Taking it off is just the reverse. They made it look easy enough.

I'll check out the video, thank you!

[J Francho]

Stability has little to do with width, and more to do with hull design.  Not a fan of Jackson's stability.  It seems pretty stable, until it isn't, and then it's over.  Never been in an OTP, but seen them in person, and they seem like a lot of extra weight for no good reason.  The most stable kayaks I've been in are my Commander and the old Prowler Big Game from OK.  Teaching a kayak fishing class has allowed me to get some seat time in a bunch of boats.  You don't need to go up to 100 lbs. for a stable, safe ride.  I suggest some seat time before you purchase.  Any good shop should be able to do that for you.

[Choporoz]

I will admit that I was a bit concerned years ago before I got mine.  The idea of tipping and losing gear, etc was pretty frightening.   Several years in, fishing 6 hrs per day once to three days per week from Easter to Thanksgiving, I will tell you that I have tipped it exactly one time.  And that was because of a stupid anchoring job in a swift river (thought I was in an eddy, but badly misjudged; combined with not getting the trolley all the way forward or aft fast enough.) 

 

I fish in big water with a lot of traffic, and I've been caught in some pretty serious storms.  I can tell you that, except for river rapids, my little 10' Wildy Tarpon has never once hinted that it might actually dump me.  I won't tell you that it isn't a little exciting at times, but you'll be amazed in the stability of smaller craft.  Mine isn't even designed for standing -- If I had something just a little wider, I don't think I could tip without some really stupid stuff going on.

[blckshirt98]

6 minutes ago, J Francho said:

The most stable kayaks I've been in are my Commander and the old Prowler Big Game from OK.  

Is that the Wilderness Systems 120/140?  I'll add that to my list of kayaks to look into.  The ATAK 140 was another Kayak that had my eye, really liked the features on it.

[CenCal fisher]

Austin kayak has most kayak brands marked down 15% through Memorial Day. The Wilderness systems radar would be another choice if you want the option of upgrading to a pedal drive down the road. The bonafied ss127 looks like a well thought out kayak but it’s also at a premium price for a paddle kayak. 

[blckshirt98]

Another question is how do you all deal with the extras?  For example a pedal drive kayak, does the pedal drive unit easily come off the kayak to load the kayak onto the car?  Ditto for trolling motors/electronic units/rudder systems/PowerPole Micros.

[Darren.]

Totally agree with @J Francho that weight does not

equal stability.

 

Similar to his Commander is my Native Ultimate 12 

which weighs 55lbs empty. Serious stability, and the

most important, secondary stability - when you go 

past the first point and suddenly you feel stable again.

 

Both our yaks are hybrids, part canoe, part kayak.

Probably two of the lightest-yet-stable fishing kayaks

out there

[J Francho]

5 minutes ago, blckshirt98 said:

Another question is how do you all deal with the extras?  For example a pedal drive kayak, does the pedal drive unit easily come off the kayak to load the kayak onto the car?  Ditto for trolling motors/electronic units/rudder systems/PowerPole Micros.

Pedal drive can be removed easily.  They can't go in until you have enough water depth to accommodate the drive.  TM and Micro Pole setups, it totally depends on the mounting system you go with.  The pole itself is easily removed from the deployment unit.

[moguy1973]

They make a bar that you can install onto the roof rack that swings out and lets you put the front of the kayak up to rest on while you pick up the rear to put on the rack.

 

[Choporoz]

Hulivator is another option.  Got one for my wife.  It is awesome.

[blckshirt98]

I got I believe a Yakima Sweetroll as a Black Friday/Cyber Monday Amazon deal that's been sitting in the garage.  I just realized someone posted a similar thread on May 10 about transporting a kayak on a car roof.  Those bar pads look like they could be helpful with getting a kayak tilted up onto the back of the Forester, then tilt up and roll onto the rack.

[flyfisher]

7 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

Chad Hoover on YouTube has a great video of his wife loading and unloading a heavy kayak by herself onto the roof of their vehicle.

 

She picks up the end walks under it until it is high enough that she can lean it on the side of the vehicle. She then grabs the end and pushes it up onto the vehicle. Then she straightens it out. Taking it off is just the reverse. They made it look easy enough.

That will work but if you have to do it on uneven terrain it can get dicey pretty quick.  I saw a person do exactly that and they had to replace a side view mirror when the kayak slid off the bar.