Personal Pontoon/Raft on Car Top?

DerekWhipple said:
Doesn't work for me. I have an outback, and once I get above 40, it starts trying to liftoff. The cargo areas probably don't help.

I would be curious if anyone has a solution.
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Fourbtgait said:
No
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That's unfortunate . I tow a fifth wheel. I was able to tow a small trailer to Montana behind the fifth wheel for our annual summer stay ,then also having the trailer to transport the pontoon back ,and forth to the lakes up here . Solved a lot of issues for me , not having to take the boat apart ,and hauling it up there ,and putting it back together , and inflating . Having to get the hitch out of the back of the truck to be able to haul the boat to fish. Just having that small lightweight trailer made using my pontoon much easier on trips ,as well as home to the local lakes .
 
Fourbtgait said:
Space, time. I just figured out the leaf blower hack, adapters for them. I already have the K pumps. And of course a 12 bolt slow ass pump, which is why for 4 years it’s stayed inflated and hauled in truck.
it goes back to what DerekWhipple said in the beginning, bow and stern both have fabric floors that act as a sail. At that point, i had already abandoned the idea from his experience and my uncertainty looking at it on the vehicle.
So by my simply asking, it led me down the rabbit hole of leaf blowers, especially for deflating as well.
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You have the age old problem that many of us share; too few boats. Just kidding, sort of. I hauled my Bucks Bronco (8' model) on top of my pickup canopy (adjustable span Yakima rack system) at freeway speeds (and over mountain passes) many times. I used quality camlock straps fastened to the rack. I had a pram built (which I now tow); a pram is a great boat but it has its limitations too. I wish I hadn't given that Bucks boat to my brother. ;-) Moral of my rambling? Buy a second boat that you can safely car top carry?
 
My Fish Cat Scout is secure enough on Thule roof racks on my Honda CR-V at highway speeds but I really take a hit on gas mileage. I'll put to boat on the racks for shorter 30 - 40 minute trips between lakes but have the boat deflated and inside for anything longer.

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Buzzy said:
You have the age old problem that many of us share; too few boats. Just kidding, sort of. I hauled my Bucks Bronco (8' model) on top of my pickup canopy (adjustable span Yakima rack system) at freeway speeds (and over mountain passes) many times. I used quality camlock straps fastened to the rack. I had a pram built (which I now tow); a pram is a great boat but it has its limitations too. I wish I hadn't given that Bucks boat to my brother. ;-) Moral of my rambling? Buy a second boat that you can safely car top carry?
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No, it’s not a problem of to few boats, that’s like saying I need more than 3 fly rods. I have all the gear you talk of, but a pontoon is different from a floored raft on a rooftop. I prefer the raft to the pontoon or pram I had before.
 
Haggis57 said:
My Fish Cat Scout is secure enough on Thule roof racks on my Honda CR-V at highway speeds but I really take a hit on gas mileage. I'll put to boat on the racks for shorter 30 - 40 minute trips between lakes but have the boat deflated and inside for anything longer.

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Just a question...would it be anymore aerodynamic if you carried it stern first?:unsure:
 
I strap down my South Fork with NRS cam straps to either 1) Thule rack on top of my van, or 2) fastening rings on the edge of my tonneau cover of my pickup, or 3) the stock racks on my wife’s CRV. Deflate to about 1.5 psi, snug down. Any place I go I’m over a mountain pass. I check the straps when the temp goes up or down significantly, when a t-storm is around, or when I change altitude a lot, or just when i stop to whiz or grab a coffee. Never had a problem. Remember: PV=nRT, it’s the law.
 
East of the Cascades everybody I know runs their pontoon boat on the racks on their trucks. With my one-ton truck I need to carry a ladder to fasten it to the rack on the canopy.

I use heavy duty straps, and BY-PASS the tie-down hooks by using a carabiner to tie the two closed loops together. That way, if the boat loosens it stays attached to the rack. Attach to straps so when you pull down, the straps tighten the boat to the rack. That way, when you change elevation it is a short stop to retighten everything.

I don't know if I would do with a raft. The pontoons are pretty aerodynamic, but even with them once I get above 55 MPH the mileage drops a bit even with the one-ton diesel.

Just drive 55 mph to save the planet and everything will be fine.

Both the planet and your boat.
 
Old406Kid said:
Just a question...would it be anymore aerodynamic if you carried it stern first?
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I think you're right that stern first is probably more aerodynamic, considering the seat bottom up to the stern is pretty much flush with the bottom of the two pontoons. I did try it that way when I first got the boat and had a friend follow me with both setups. With the stern first setup, he said it looked like the stern was trying to lift up more and appeared to be staining more against the front tie-down straps. After that small bit of experimentation, I decided to go with the stern to the rear.

There are lots of benefits to the frameless pontoons and rafts but they are just not as aerodynamic as the framed pontoons on roof racks.
 
Here is my system. I regularly go highway speeds up here in North Idaho.

My rack is an Amazon copy of the Yakima system. I use heavy duty straps, 2 attached to the rack and the other 2 attached to my bed hooks through the stake hole pockets. I also attach to more to the hooks on my BakFlip cover. Those 2 attach to the front rings on my pontoon. IMG_8714.jpegIMG_8715.jpeg
 
Hey @Squaretail

Would you be kind enough to tell me the make and model of your Amazon System

I like that rear horizontal bar to rest the pontoons on. I may be able to use that system.

Currently I lift my Gish Cat 9 onto the cab of my truck. I have a fiberglass tonneau cover that I don't trust to support the boat but if I had half the boat supported with that bar like you do, I think it would work.

Thank you in advance.

Bob
 
Thank you @Squaretail

How do you lower the tailgate with the upright bar in place. Seems like there would be no room for the tailgate to be lowered to level.
 
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Squaretail said:
@Draketak I would be happy to. Here is the make and model:


The brand is Yacuta. I will also note that with my setup, I can lower the tailgate with the boat attached.
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You should check the manufacturer weight capacity. A typical fiberglass one can hold over 100 pounds. I’ve seen several with bicycle mounts in them.
One reason I bought the Clearwater raft is it only weighs 35 pounds without the bags/gear. My rollup tonneau cover had a capacity of I think 40 pounds. Never an issue.
 
Yes they can hold a lot of weight. Mine is a Bakflip MX4 and the max weight capacity is 400 lbs evenly distributed. The panels are aluminum not fiberglass.
 
Ahhh just yhrow it up thrre. Who cares!!! Tie it on the ruff ahh who cares just get on the freeway. If it falls off these people shoukd know thats the Heavy Price they're payin since they didn't compete and speed up!! I always speed up on the freeway!! Its all about competing BIG on the road!! No one stays ahead of me!! I always win the drive!!
 
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