I’m looking at my roof rack and the plethora of gadgets out there and can’t really decide which is the best (easiest and safest) way to transport mine. My truck’s shell/cap already has two Yakima round cross bars installed so I’ve been looking at Yakima products but wow they are pricey. Thoughts?

A porta boat is also pretty heavy and long to get on and off of a roof rack. A small trailer is an easy option, easier to launch it etc.

^^^^^
I want to take it to some places where a trailer wouldn't be the easiest thing.

Then you need a roof rack that you can get the front of the boat on and then slide it up, versus having to lift it. They make a porta dolly which allows the rear to roll and easier to move around to where you want to launch it AND easier to get the bow on the roof rack and slide it up. Having to dead lift it onto the roof isn't a one man job.

I was curious what a Porta-Bote was, and googled it. A folding rowboat, basically. The specs on it say the biggest one is 53 pounds. This is lighter than my kayak (by 2 pounds). I have no problem dead-lifting my kayak on top of my car or Jeep.

I'd expect that basic tie-downs would work around Yak round bars, assuming the Bote isn't too "floppy".

Including a motor?

quote:

Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:
I was curious what a Porta-Bote was, and googled it. A folding rowboat, basically. The specs on it say the biggest one is 53 pounds. This is lighter than my kayak (by 2 pounds). I have no problem dead-lifting my kayak on top of my car or Jeep.

I'd expect that basic tie-downs would work around Yak round bars, assuming the Bote isn't too "floppy".

The problem is the porta boat is either 12' or 14' long. Trying to lift a 14' long object above your head is a bit tricky, do-able for most guys, but not fun.

Porta- trailer ?

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:
...The problem is the porta boat is either 12' or 14' long. Trying to lift a 14' long object above your head is a bit tricky, do-able for most guys, but not fun.

It's all a matter of balance. (And no wind!)

My uncle had one, but I can’t remember how he transported it since he had different vehicles during that time. It is possible I have photos of his rig, but since they are photos and not images, they are lost away in my boxes of several thousand photos.

Great name for a boat. My immediate association was Porta Potty. Since they have such a "cute" name with the misspelling and all, maybe there is a Porta Traylor to be had. LINK:

https://www.servicesanitation....single-unit-trailer/

quote:

The specs on it say the biggest one is 53 pounds

They weigh in pounds from smallest to largest: 68, 78, 87, 108. Porta-Bote specs

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
They weigh in pounds from smallest to largest: 68, 78, 87, 108.

Reading truly is fundamental. I read the wrong row. Mea culpa.

The main problem is how to safely secure it to my truck’s shell and whether I need another rack across the cab as I have a hitch extender that reaches up to the shell top. Pictures for everyone which I should have done in my first post.





The boat is not mine but should give everyone the idea. As for my truck. The front rack has a slide out rod that is designed for loading a canoe on top of the carrier.

As long as you strap it good to your top racks, you should be fine. Ratchet straps would work well, but would need to place the ratchet where it won't hurt anything. Best if the front section is angled down a hair so wind pushes it down and not up. Maybe put a small moving blanket behind the rear roof rack so you don't mar the paint on your camper shell as you slide the boat up enough to get the stern up high enough to clear the red paint.

quote:

Originally posted by XLT:
Porta- trailer ?

That along with a porta potty and he’s good to porta go.

Get their RV mount, attach it to the bars on your camper top, looks like it would be tight and secure with a lock.

^^^
I hadn't thought of that. I'll call tomorrow and ask them about that.

Go to the Yakima racks website. They sell a retractable telescoping bar that comes out to the side of your truck/van, you lift one end on to it. I don’t recall the procedure exactly, you may slide the boat over on to the main rack and then push the other end up. When I was into kayaks I looked at all sorts of ways I—with a bad back—could get a kayak on top of our Odyssey.

Yakima loader

Another option: Thule makes a gadget that flips your kayak up after you fasten it down at chest height on the side of the vehicle.

Thule loader

I forget why I went with the Yakima; I did see the Thule demonstrated.

I have a 14’ Hobie Odyssey that weighs 82 pounds. I use two straps to secure to the cross bars, then use 2 cords to secure the front and back of the kayak as well. I’ll link a YouTube video below with exactly what I do. With this method, I’ve never had any issues transporting it even at highway speeds of 70+mph. The boat is too heavy for me to lift up myself, so I also have the extension that sjtill referenced above and it works great for easy 1 person loading.

https://youtu.be/9dlhKRNL0ks