Member Since: 07 Jul 2011
Location: Somerset
Posts: 435
Boat on roof?
I'm thinking of buying a Dart 15 catamaran but would need to roof top it as I'll be towing a caravan as well. I think the boat weighs in at about 100Kg, any recommendations for roof racks to take this load? Has anyone had experience of roof topping a boat? I've owned a Dart 18 cat but always towed that. Any advice welcome.
Jem
How the hell are you gonna lift the damn thing up there?? Hiab??
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13th Aug 2013 7:27 pm
Somerset Jem
Member Since: 07 Jul 2011
Location: Somerset
Posts: 435
It separates into component parts, hulls weigh about 35kg each, 2 part mast 10Kg. The remaining 20kg ie trampoline, sails, rudders etc can all go in the boot or caravan. Having said that, a Hiab would still be useful for the hulls!
13th Aug 2013 7:34 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Whilst many have had considerably more up there the published max weight is just 75kg.Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 07 Jul 2011
Location: Somerset
Posts: 435
Cheers Robbie, just checked weights and it would be 66Kg if I put the mast in the caravan as well, so within tolerance.
13th Aug 2013 7:41 pm
Nasher
Member Since: 07 Mar 2009
Location: Clanfield, North of Pompey - UK
Posts: 2790
I quite often have the younger Nashers Bombard on the roof whilst towing the RIB or just instead of inflating and deflating it all the time.
Click image to enlarge
However my homemade roof rack has feet at the front of the roof in the place meant for the LR Expedition rack as well as 6 on the higher part, so spreads the load a little more and provides support over a greater distance back to front.
Here pre painting
Click image to enlarge
You might find that just using cross bars on the upper part of the roof the bars will be too close together to provide stable support front to back.
Nasher.Heaven doesn't want me, and hell is afraid I'll take over.
13th Aug 2013 9:57 pm
Somerset Jem
Member Since: 07 Jul 2011
Location: Somerset
Posts: 435
I take your point Nasher, the hulls are a few inches long than the D3 total length so quite a lot of leverage on the bars. Most people tie down front and back to take out most of the 'rocking' movement. I might have to look at a modification or an additional custom bar at the front. Jem
13th Aug 2013 10:17 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
The load limit has little to do with strength as you could host a party up there. The published load limit is do with handling (and the nanny state) but as long as you are not chucking the car about or taking it to mirror-grounding off-road angles all should be fine. You can hardly feel the roof load on an air-equipped D3 (coilers get a bit twitchy with fuel, wheels etc on the roof but still handle better than your average van).
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 04 May 2010
Location: Hants
Posts: 485
You might want to consider extended roof rails to give better roof bar separation. We carry long Kayaks between 5.2m (single) and 6.5m (double). The extended rails help but we still use 8' longitudinal V bars on top of the roof bars to support the kayak hulls (mainly for the hulls protection though) Perhaps use something like that for the Dart hulls?
However, having said that, we have had Canadian / Open canoes up on those roof wider spaced roof bars too and they come in at about the same weight and 16' long. Definately a two man job to invert and heft a Canoe onto the bars though!
16th Aug 2013 12:07 am
chopcat
Member Since: 08 Apr 2013
Location: Pembrokeshire
Posts: 481
with the prospeed rack you can add as many bars as you like to spread the load.
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Jem
