Kayak mounting

[Advanturetrek]

We're finalizing our SMB design and are looking for a place on the rig to mount 2 white water play boat kayaks. The roof is filled with solar panels mounted to an aluminess roof rack. We're thinking of mounting the kayaks:
a) hanging off the side of the roof rack
b) attached to side of vehicle, ala Jimmy Buffet's surfboards
c) attached in the back to the top of the deluxe box or to a hitch mount

The back of the rig will have swing away tire arm and deluxe box. May have bike/ski rack on top of deluxe box or on a hitch mount. It's not easy having gear!

Anybody have creative solutions for racking short kayaks?

Thanks!

[Burklin]

Look at the Thule Hullavator

http://www.thule.com/en/US/Products/Wat ... vator.aspx

[tomesd]

We have solar panels and carry kayaks all the time on our Aluminess- we have rollers in the back and have made Yakima crossbars to span the panels. Check out the pics in my gallery.

[Advanturetrek]

Tomesd,

What a great idea! It's encouraging to know that it's possible. Checked out your pics. Looks like you have 3 solar panels mounted on an Aluminess rack. Is that correct?

I didn't see a pic showing the kayak attachments in relation to the rack and the solar panels. Could you guide me on that.

Thanks!

[tomesd]

We have a removeable yak track that spans the front of the rack right behind the lights that raises the kayaks above the lights and another track that is part of the rack itself that spans the width of the rack right behind the solar panels (there are only 2 solar panels mounted crossways). We just use sets of the Yakima hully rollers on the rear track, which works in unison with the rollers integrated into the rack, and cradles for the front- works great and our solar panels aren't touched. Next time they're loaded I'll snap some pics.