Kayak Racks

[Mert Gollaher]

Does anyone have any experience with the Garhauer Kayak Racks?  My searches didn't turn up much.  The Garhauer racks are essentially L-shaped SS tubes that bolt on the outboard side of the stanchions (2 per side) to hold a kayak.  Seems simple and straightforward, but I'm a little anxious about the stress on the stanchions (constant load and getting hit by a wave).  It would seem that the outboard positioning would caution against sailing with much heel to leave a safety factor to ensure the kayak never hits the water.  If you use them, how hard are they to install and remove? Do you leave them installed all the time or put them on only when needed?  I'm thinking I'll want them installed only for certain cruising destinations with the ability to remove them for beer can racing, etc.  Are there other approaches to getting kayaks off the deck I ought to consider?  Thanks for your thoughts and advice.

Mert

[Bob Kuba]

Mert,

I have not transported kayaks, but I have carried bicycles on board. The first time I tried it, I stood them up against the shrouds just inside the lifelines, bungeed in place. All was well until the first tack, and the sheet tangled around the handlebars and pulled off the rear view mirror and sent it overboard. Not a very graceful tack either.

Next, we tried on the cabin top leaning outward against the shrouds, and again bungeed in place, as the photo shows. This was a much better arrangement, especially with the handlebars positioned fore and aft to avoid any wayward sheets.

I too would have a concern with the kayaks mounted outside the stanchions. Catch a good wave with a rail down and the kayak(s) may take the stanchions with them as they depart the boat.

[Braxton]

There is a Beneteau in our marina that uses them.   They seem perfectly adequate for sitting in the marina but the look of them does not inspire confidence in them holding up under stress.

If I get a chance I'll quiz the boat owner on what he/she thinks of them.

[ssk]

My friends have them on their S2.  Took two kayaks with them on the last Baja HaHa and then 6 months cruising the coast down as far as Banderas Bay and back.  They seemed to hold up pretty well as did all the other Garhauer hardware they installed for that trip.  Now that I think of it, just about every boat on my dock has them--except me.  ~_/) ~~

[Mert Gollaher]

Thanks for your thoughts guys.  I still don't know whether I'll get the Garhauer racks or just continue to clutter the deck when we take the kayaks.  Perhaps I'll just put off the decision - especially since sign up forms for haul out dates at our club arrived in the mail today 

[Kevin Henderson]

Bringing up this old topic:

I'm considering also getting the Garhauer Kayak racks.  Does anyone have any more recent experiences or advice on these?
any alternative suggestions for  hauling a kayak?   

[lazybone]

Maybe the racks could face inboard and toward the bow?

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

It wouldn't hurt to call Mark or Guido at Garhauer and let them know your concerns. Those guys are great problem solvers and I bet they'll come up with an idea.

Mike

[Footloose]

A friend has them on a C30.  They seem to work well.  I don't like the look, but it isn't my boat.

[DarthOccam]

Does anyone have any more recent experiences or advice on these?
any alternative suggestions for  hauling a kayak?   

We tried a set last year. Like all Garhauer gear, they are solid and well made.  We mounted them forward of the beamiest part of the boat.

Ultimately, we decided not to use them. Part of the reason was that our kayak is a sit-on-top tandem, which made for a lot of plastic hanging off the side of the boat. It would occasionally drag in the water and didn't leave much clearance coming back into the (tight) slip passing by the concrete piling on that side. It was also a lot of weight (80 lbs) torquing on the stanchions. Even though I don't like it on deck, we now keep the kayak wedged between the shrouds and lifelines and lashed to the stanchions.

Still, they are very popular in our marina.  Would work much better with a smaller kayak.  YMMV.

Michael

[scotty]

I also see a lot of them.  I would love to use them at anchor, or at the dock.  When sailing, however, I would not feel safe.  One good (or bad) wave could put a lot of pressure on the stanchions.

[RonE]

Mert,
I carry my 13 ft SOT, on weekend overnite trips on the inside of the stanchions. I cleat off the bow and stern. I also put a line b/w the main stanchion and the kayak and make sure the jib sheet lays over the line. I also bring the jib block back so the jib sheet flows better on a tack. I raise by seating with a cushion when I am at the helm and I usually bring in the jib 10% so I don't have a visually issue looking forward.   I use my main halyard to lift the kayak off my dock or off the water, it works perfect. I leave the halyard attached until I go onto the kayak, then I tie it off to the life line. I never appreciated a SOT until I started sailing with it, they are not as performance oriented but extremely stable.
Ron

[patrice]

HI,

We also would like to have kayak to go around the bay or other when sailing away.
But having to carry 2 of them, I don't like the idea to see them on the forward deck.
So I was looking at the inflatable, does anyone have tried these ?

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=686619&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50596&subdeptNum=50620&classNum=50622

[mregan]

Never tried the inflatable kayak but we did just purchase and inflatable paddleboard.  Once blown up it's as hard as a rock and works pretty well.  I use it for paddling around the anchorage and harbors.  Rolls up into a large (3' tall) backpack.  We leave it in the v-berth when not at the boat for the week and throw it up on the deck (right in front of the dodger) when we go sailing.  Don't blow it up until we anchor but we have sailed with it blown up on the deck.

[bayates]

Been using the Garhauer kayak racks for two years with the last year on our 2000 C34. They work great. We use it for the 2 person kayak and sometimes add the SUP as well.  I added rubber grommets at the stanchion so I can swivel them in when racing. So far no issues sailing when we go to Catalina.