Car Topping a PDL Kayak? Is it super difficult?

[Funfishin]

Hey Guys,

 

New to Kayak Fishing. I have been doing extreme amount of research for Pedal Drive Kayaks. I have even joined some FB groups to research. Is it reasonable to car top a Sedan with a PDL kayak. They range in weight from 95-105 lbs. I have a 4 door sedan with factory roof racks. I was thinking about foaming the racks to protect the roof and give a bit more height, then using a rear window roller to assist in solo rear loading the kayak. I am a bit on the skinny side, 5"10 150 lbs, so a bit worried about that.  Also with fish finders and other after market rigs, will it be difficult to avoid damage to car or kayak. I really don't want to settle on a lighter weight kayak just because of transport but trailer and truck is not an option at all. 

Thanks for any replies. Grateful!

[Choporoz]

If your roof rack is rated for the weight,  check out the Hullivator.  I stole my wife's when I got my Hobie, and absolutely love it.  Worth every penny 

[Bankc]

You'll want to remove everything from your kayak before you load and unload it onto the roof.  Not just to make it easier, but to make it safer.  I have everything on my kayak attached with some kind of quick release lock, so I can get it all set up or tore down in just a few minutes.  You'll want to get the weight down as much as possible, and reduce the wind resistance as much as you can.  Also, make sure your roof rack is rated for your kayak, not just the static load rating, but the dynamic load rating.  Your kayak will put a lot more than 95-105 lbs. of force on your roof rack under normal driving conditions, and a whole lot more if and when you have to slam the breaks or swerve hard.  Most roof racks should be able to handle a big kayak, if properly secured, but not all.  So you'll want to check ahead of time before you commit to buying one.  Especially on a sedan. 

 

I use a roller (actually my kayak cart strapped upside down on the trunk of my coupe) to get my kayak up and down from the roof.  My kayak is 85lbs, and I'm about 180lbs.  For me, it's doable, but it's not easy.  My initial impression is that you could probably do it too (I was 145lbs/6'2" when I graduated high school), if you don't have any back or health problems, but it'll be tough.  It's probably going to be a bit like lifting 60-75lbs up to your chest.  

[wasabi_VA]

Yes, certainly doable. Some folks get a roof rack with an extension that can slide out over the side of the car. This gives you a place to lift and rest one end of the kayak. Then go to the other end and lift and slide it forward across the rest of the roof rack. Then the extension either slides back in out of the way or it detaches. This way you are only lifting approx. half the weight of the kayak at a time 

[Darth-Baiter]

No problem.  People do it all the time. They empty the boat first.  Pedal drive out, all the gear, etc into the car. kayak goes on the roof rack upside down, cam strapped down. Sedans are easy because the roof line is so low. 

[DogBone_384]

4 hours ago, Bankc said:

You'll want to remove everything from your kayak

I remove my Lure 11.5’s seat and Overdrive before I hoist it on my truck’s ladder rack.

[DogBone_384]

14 hours ago, They call me “Gaiter Salad” said:

kayak goes on the roof rack upside down

I tried that on my CRV, it whistles badly.  Next time out I'll flip it over and see how it goes.

[YoTone]

my slayer 10 is slightly lighter but anyways i put a rubber car mat on my trunk and rest the front of my kayak on it then push it up. but yeah i got crazy scratches on my car but its a old car thats on its way to the car graveyard soon haha.

[Bankc]

3 hours ago, YoTone said:

my slayer 10 is slightly lighter but anyways i put a rubber car mat on my trunk and rest the front of my kayak on it then push it up. but yeah i got crazy scratches on my car but its a old car thats on its way to the car graveyard soon haha.

Same here.  I use pool noodles up top with PVC centers for rigidity, and I still have scratches from the hull all over my roof.  I like the fee pool noodles because they roll with the kayak, making it easier to slide.  The down side is they also dent in my roof when it passes the center.  It pops out again when I get to the edges, but it's still not good for my car.  Either way, I'm more concerned about my transmission than paint and body.  My next car will have a permanent roof rack.

[schplurg]

On 1/4/2021 at 1:52 PM, wasabi_VA said:

Yes, certainly doable. Some folks get a roof rack with an extension that can slide out over the side of the car. This gives you a place to lift and rest one end of the kayak. Then go to the other end and lift and slide it forward across the rest of the roof rack. Then the extension either slides back in out of the way or it detaches. This way you are only lifting approx. half the weight of the kayak at a time 

 

I was going to do this method, but I came up with a way that requires no extension.

 

Just lift one end and pivot the yak so the front or back is leaning on the roof, perpendicular to the van/vehicle. Then lift the back and slide it up with the yak still perpendicular and balanced on the roof.

 

Then just carefully rotate the thing 90 degrees. I put a towel on the roof next to the rack to avoid scratching when I first lean it.

 

If I just slide it from the back I have a lot more chance of messing up my van.

[VolFan]

I ise the above method to put my Nucanoe Frontier on top of my 4Runner. A couple well-placed mats save a lot of wear and tear both on the vehicle and boat. I am 5'6" and about 170 but its no problem.

[flyfisher]

Cartopping is about technique as much as strength.  You have to find the true balance point, not just where they put the handles.  I cartopped my ATAK 140 on my wrangler for a few years before i broke down and got a trailer.  All the advice on here is good so no need to rehash anything.  

I did see one post about whistling....usually that is straps and give them a twist or two and it usually goes away.

[schplurg]

Speaking of whistling, and since the topic is marked "solved", anyone else notice the line on their rods making strange sounds when the wind hits them? Took me half a day on the water before I realized what it was. Kinda cool. Or annoying actually. Maybe I can tighten them and tune them to each other like a guitar.