Load 'Em Up

Accessories

Saddles, stackers, rollers, so many choices, so little time. What's best for your boat? Again, think about what you paddle, and what you drive. Manufacturers offer so many choices because there are so many different styles and needs. If you're likely to load your boat from the front or rear of your vehicle instead of the side, a set of rollers for the rear rack and saddles for the front (or vice versa) might be the way to go. HullyRollers from Yakima ($70) or Thule's Roller Coaster ($119) are two options to consider. Although different in their designs, both let your boat roll onto the rack and into position.

The AutoLoader XV Kayak Rack from Malone Auto Racks (www.maloneautoracks.com) is designed to carry just about any kayak, with models available to fit varying boat widths. The AutoLoader XV ($89.95) is the successor to the Super J, the original J-style kayak carrier. It's a padded, slightly flexible injection-molded saddle that nestles the kayak on its side. Designed to provide a safe and comfy ride for composite boats, the AutoLoader XV works just as well with plastic rec boats, and fits Thule, Yakima, and factory racks.

Kayak Pro (www.kayakpro.com) takes an innovative approach with the EZ-Vee Kayak Carrier. The EZ-Vee ($270) features two V-shaped padded saddles that attach to an included seven-foot-long beam; the beam clamps onto Thule or Yakima crossbars, and the racks are adjustable along the length of the beam. Longer models are available, and Kayak Pro also offers a pair of saddles that attach directly to Thule racks without the beam (EZ-Vee Racer, $145). The EZ-Vee's bungee-cord attachment system holds the boat securely but helps prevent damage to composite boats from straps that are too tight.

Boat security is becoming more of an issue as thefts rise with the increasing popularity of kayaking. The Lock and Roll from Boaterlock.com (www.boaterlock.com) completely rethinks the process of securing your boat to your car. The strapless system uses two brackets on a rail that attaches to Thule or Yakima racks; one bracket is fixed, while the other slides along the rail until both are snug against the inside of the cockpit. Turn a lever, lock it with a key, and your boat is not only ready to roll, it's locked in place and virtually impossible to steal. The Lock and Roll ($125 plus adapter to fit Thule or Yakima) is designed for whitewater or playboats.

Yakima also offers the Boatlocker ($49), a 10-foot cable that secures your boat and paddle to any type of rack, or tree or lamppost for that matter. It works with canoes as well as kayaks.

Lasso Security Cables www.lassosecuritycables.com) makes the Lasso ($48), which uses a pair of vinyl-coated quarter-inch steel aircraft cables with an integrated tamper-proof lock designed specifically for touring kayaks. Each Lasso half has a large loop on one end that is roughly 45 inches in diameter, and the tail including half of the combination lock is roughly 75 inches.

Helmet company Shred Ready (www.shredready.com) has the simple and inexpensive Rack Guard ($20). It's four meters of high-strength steel cable coated in plastic, with a loop on one end and a hard plastic ball on the other. Feed the cable through your boat's security bar, stick the ball through the loop, and shut the ball inside the car door. There are no keys to lose or locks to jam up.

Truck racks

Pickup owners can face an added challenge when deciding how to haul boats: How do you mount the second set of crossbars? Of course, with shorter plastic boats, you can pile them in the truck bed, throw a strap or two around them, and just go. But with any boats over about eight feet long, you'll need support for both the bow and stern. Lots of manufacturers offer utility racks for trucks, designed to haul ladders, lumber, and other equipment and supplies. This may work fine for some people, but it may limit your choice of accessories.

Major players Yakima and Thule both offer racks designed for pickup trucks, including the Yakima Outdoorsman 300 and the Xsporter by Thule, neither of which requires any drilling to mount to your vehicle. The Xsporter ($499), available for both compact and full-size pickups, features rails that clamp to the bed rails of your truck, and a pair of adjustable-height posts for each set of rails. The aerodynamically shaped crossbars aren't standard Thule bars, so some accessories require adapters, but the Xsporter can carry up to 450 pounds.

By contrast, Yakima's Outdoorsman 300 comes piece by piece, so you choose either a full set ($340, four posts, one at each corner of the bed) or a half set ($170, two posts at the rear corners of the bed), depending on how you want to carry your boat. You'll need to add crossbars, selected to fit the width of your truck ($49-$53), to complete the package. This à la carte approach enables the buyer to customize a rack for his or her needs, and because the Outdoorsman 300 uses standard Yakima crossbars, any Yakima accessory should fit without an adapter. The Outdoorsman 300 is rated to carry up to 300 pounds.

Billed as the "original disappearing truck rack," the Mirage Truck Rack ($399), available exclusively from Rack Warehouse (www.rackwarehouse.com), features rails that bolt to your truck's bed rails and four posts that disassemble and fit into a package small enough to store behind your truck seat. The Mirage's round crossbars fit Yakima accessories and will carry up to 300 pounds.

Another rack designed for pickup trucks is the Utility Rack from U.S. Rack ($299). This exceptionally sturdy platform for hauling kayaks, or other cargo weighing up to 500 lbs, clamps on in 5 minutes. Malone Kayak Carriers have been adapted to fit this rack and other accessories are available. www.usrack.com/utility_rack.shtml.

Trailers

Another option for paddlers is to think beyond the cartop rack and consider a trailer to transport your boats. The biggest advantage of trailers is that you may never need to lift your boat over your head again. Trailers come in a variety of styles and materials to carry anything from a single kayak to multiple canoes and kayaks. Be sure to consider your vehicle's recommended towing capacity, and factor in the weight of both the boat and the trailer when making a decision. Most states will also require you to register your trailer and display a license plate. And then there's that backing-up part, but all it takes is practice.

Based in Ohio, Trailex manufactures trailers made of aluminum, which saves weight and eliminates the concern of rust. Their components are also bolted together, which allows for precise adjustment and a custom fit. Trailex (www.trailex.com) offers a variety of styles ranging in price from $660 to more than $2,500.

SportsRig MicroTrailers (www.sportsrig.com) feature motorcycle components, including shock absorbers to handle rough roads with ease. The steel frame comes pre-wired with four side lights and two rear lights for maximum visibility and safety. Models range in price from $1,299 to $1,999; an optional trailer-tongue extension ($113-$163) may be required to carry longer boats.

The Multi-Use Trailer (MUT) series from Slick Rydr (www.slickrydr.com) can accommodate anything from a single canoe or a pair of kayaks to as many as eight kayaks, depending on your needs. MUTs are constructed of sturdy aluminum with nonslip surfaces and feature a patented suspension system to handle bumpy country roads. Prices range from $1,210 to $1,449.

The Rack and Roll trailer (www.rackandroll.com) is made of anodized aluminum with a pair of industry-standard load-bars and is compatible with Thule and Yakima roof-rack-system products. It can carry up to 250 pounds and folds away for easy storage in your garage ($2,000).

Magneta Trailers (www.oldinc.comtrailerproducts.htm ) makes steel sport trailers that can be configured to carry up to four canoes or kayaks. A basic one-canoe trailer is $966.

With all these choices, every paddler should be able to find the perfect way to haul that new boat to the water. Just remember to consider what you paddle, what you drive, and how you play. And above all, remember that safety is the primary concern. Keep these factors in mind as you make your decision and you are sure to be on the road to paddling paradise.

Contributing editor Tim Farmer lives near Round Hill, Virginia, and is public relations coordinator for the State Arboretum of Virginia. He currently has three vehicles in his driveway, each with a different brand of kayak rack.