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My 14 year old son had been paddling for while now and is starting to enter competitions. When the races are at his home club that's fine, but we're stuck for Away matches.
Looking around the car park I've seen lots of roof racks with what looks like a pair of extra V shapes attached.
Any ideas what these are called so I can start googling, and do any of you have recommendations for carrying canoes/kayaks? I'll also ask around at his club if I drop him off tonight.
Thanks
They might be J-bars that you have seen, depending on what sort of kayak you are transporting they might not be necessary though. Most white water boats are flat enough on the bottom that they sit well on the roof bars.
Its a good idea to have some padding on your bars no matter the boat, will mean less tension on the straps is required as they provide some grip, and less damage to your boat.
They are known as V-Bars. I think Kirton Kayaks may sell them but other suppliers and versions available.
They used to be made by Lawler Engineering over at East Molsey (who I used to race with/against - Pete and Rowland Lawler) but that was years ago,
Don't Thule sell a few kayak supports? I think that's what I have
What sort of boat is he paddling?
V-bars for sprint/marathon, J bars for sea kayaks and slalom and WW racers, ibars for whitewater boats.
You’re looking for V bars.
I’ve just bought a couple of sets of these from loom, not sure I’d want to carry a K2 on them, but for a k1 they’re great and much cheaper than normal Vbars.
https://www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/kayak-v-bars.html
Im assuming this is flat water racing if you’re looking at V bars, if you’ve got any questions feel free to PM me, I’ve just restarted racing after a 20odd year break.
Hereford marathon this weekend, and I cannot wait, it was always my favourite race.
I’ve just bought a couple of sets of these from loom, not sure I’d want to carry a K2 on them, but for a k1 they’re great and much cheaper than normal Vbars.
Back in the day we used to carry wooden Struer K2s all the time on V-Bars
A lot depends on the boat and the vehicle.
If you want to attach a standard kayak to the high top of a camper then j bars are the way forward.
You can also get adaptors to hold akayak/ canoe of a particular shape on a normal set of roof racks. IMHO these are only necessary if you have a special boat.
If you want to carry loads of kayaks on a roof then you need a set up uprights. They could be j shaped, but IMHO that wastes space, so just get ones that are .... upright. Ie I shaped
The key thing you haven't told us is what type of kayak.... you mention racing, so I guess either a WWracer or slalom. If WWR then I guess the holder could be V shaped. If slalom them I guess a j bar would be OK.
you mention racing, so I guess either a WWracer or slalom.
Or sprint or marathon racing
OP are you near burton on trent want some free V cradles? (for cross bars)
If OP doesn't want free* to any good home 2 pairs available just gathering dust in the garage.
(*stick a small donation to the charity of your choice)
Thanks all. It's sprint and marathon racing on the Thames, in a K1.
I'll have a look at your suggestions, thanks again!
Which club?
If you’re borrowing a club boat, many clubs insist on you using the extended v-bars on a rail as there have been too many cases of broken boats with people using things like conventional roof racks and ratchet straps.