So excited and so annoyed (How I'm almost a kayak owner)

[NoNo]

I've decided this was the year I would join the kayak-owning ranks. I bought a rack for my car, then the Hullavator (I'm by myself, there's no way I'm getting a kayak on top of my car without assistance). Today I went to a shop recommended by a friend to check out my options.

Things got off to a shaky start when it took me a solid hour to mount the rack to my car. When I came inside, I saw that the shop in town had called to tell me the Hullavator was in, so that cheered me up. Swung by, threw it in the trunk, and headed out to Rhode Island. Should have taken me 90 minutes. Yeah, no one told my GPS the main road to the shop was closed from flood damage I made U-turns, I drove on dirt roads that seemingly went to nowhere. Finally my GPS was able to devise a new route, and I pulled in well over 2 hours later.

I went in, told them my anticipated uses, and they directed me to the 12'-14' boats. I sat in a Necky Looksha and a Wilderness Systems Tsunami 135. The Looksha was ok, but it felt a little big. The Tsunami felt great. As well it should have, as it's made for tiny people such as myself The cockpit felt just the right size, my leg placement felt good, and the seat was fairly comfy. I saw the price and panicked - it was a bit more than I wanted to spend. But it was meant to be! It was deeply discounted, as they'd mistakenly been sent a double shipment and had to move them out. Even though I just went to "look" I decided it was too good of a deal to pass up and bought it.

So what's the problem? We went out to the car to mount the Hullavator when my stomach sank. In my rush to leave after fighting with the rack, I left the key to the locks home! They were going to mount the Hullavator for me and I could have driven home with my new baby, but NOOOOOOOOO! I get to drive back to Rhode Island and try again next week. I could not believe I'd gone through all that trouble just to be foiled at the very end. I'm sure the first time I slip into the water, this will all be forgotten and I'll have many hours of paddling joy.

[Zen]

I kinda like the looks of this.
I'd like to figure out how to secure the yak on top of my jeep. I know it can be done, i've seen it

[Cataboo]

Zen, are you going to be able to get a kayak to the roof of your jeep by yourself? Because I don't think I'd be able to stick a kayak on the roof of a jeep by myself. I can do it on my subaru - but any taller than that, I'd need help.

If you go to outdoorplay.com, they should have things on how to load a kayak on your own.

the hulluvator probably works - I just always considered it too expensive for what it does when there's other ways to get a kayak up.

What I have is the yakima kayak loader:
http://www.yakima.com/racks/kayak-ra...oatloader.aspx

Basically, I set one end of the kayak on the kayak loader and the other end can rest on the ground, but I basically shove the end that's down on the ground up towards the roof - it sits in the front cradles, then I just lift the back of the kayak off the loader and on to the back cradles/rollers.

It works and it's actually faster for me to load a boat by myself than have someone whose not used to it help me.



If you don't want to do the kayak loader, you can also put kayak rollers on the rear bars, set a towel or something on the back of your car, rest the kayak on the towel, then pick the back of the kayak and shove it forward into the rollers, which will let you roll the kayak onto the car.


enjoy the kayak!

[Cataboo]

this guy kind of does opposite of what I do, but it works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsBJd...eature=related

[lph]

Oh, the Tsunami is a great kayak, No-No, you'll be thrilled! They come in different sizes, and I can't remember the one I used, but at our local paddling club it was my favourite starter kayak and there's an even smaller childrens version that fit my son perfectly. Everything perfectly downsized to fit a small 12-yr-old, really nice.

I took my kayak out yesterday Had a borrowed, too big drysuit and wanted to practice cos I was worried I couldn't slip out of and climb into my kayak easily wearing it. I felt so unstable getting out into the water - but the minute I sat down properly I just felt this "aaah, I'm home!" feeling

Tell us all about it when you get there! What a bummer having to wait, but it will be so worth it.

[NoNo]

Thanks everyone! Believe me, I debated extensively over whether the Hullavator was necessary, or if I could get away with a used rack off Craigslist. My boss, who always chastises me when I buy stuff, actually supported the idea! He said as long as I'm putting the money out for something nice like a kayak, I should get the absolute best of everything I can afford. My friend was in favor of it, only so that he wouldn't have to hear me complaining about how I scratched up my car and couldn't get the kayak on top. I happened to notice the outdoor shop up the street had it deeply discounted (about 40% off), and that sealed the deal!

LPH, I definitely noticed the scaling difference. In the Necky, I felt like my legs had to be unnaturally high to reach the thigh supports and that the sides of the cockpit came up a bit high, like it was swallowing me. In the Tsunami, it just felt "right". My legs were bent, but not too much, the seat hit just right, and the sides were at a height that wouldn't impede rowing. Being 5'-1", I've grown accustomed to things not quite fitting, but that wasn't the case here.

Oh, I should ask if there's anything else I need right now? I bought the kayak, paddle, PFD, cover (not a spray skirt), and safety kit with pump, paddle float, paddle strap, and whistle. Everything I buy with the kayak is 10% off and there's no taxes. They're keeping my order open until I pick it up, so if there's anything else I should add, I may as well do it now.

I've rented kayaks before and loved it, now I can't wait to get out there in my own!

[withm]

I kinda like the looks of this.
I'd like to figure out how to secure the yak on top of my jeep. I know it can be done, i've seen it

That girl is going to mess up the hood of her car with that method. Odd because she HAS the Hully Rollers at the back end of her car... where she could just roll the boat up and onto the saddles in the front. She is making way too much work for herself.