roof rack for OC-1

I've just bought a OC-1 (21 ft.) and discovered this forum. I am looking for something on the market that attaches to my SUV roof rack to increase the length between the attachment points. The rack on my GMC Tahoe is only 5 ft. long and the overhang at front and back makes for too much instability, especially on a windy day.

Any ideas out there?
Thanks.

Submitted by Dano on Sun, 06/13/2004 - 6:30am



What I've found that works pretty well is an item by THULE called the Goalpost. It attaches to your trailer hitch, comes up behind your truck and provides another crossbar about 1 foot behind your vehicle. YAKIMA also makes one called the Drydock. The spread between my front and back crossbars is about 10', and it's super-stable. Just don't strap your canoe down to a third middle bar! Both are about the same price at $150, but you'll need a trailer hitch.


#1 Sun, 06/13/2004 - 1:07pm


i have the same problem... i have a civic and there is maybe two feet between my racks, which makes it suck to drive on the freeways.. i dont have a trailer hitch, and i'm sure that i've seen people with extenders, but for awhile i only thought that there was yakima extenders, but a few days ago i'm sure that i saw someone with thule racks with like a three foot extension.. anyone know about extenders that fit for thule racks? i know they're out there somewhere


#2 Sun, 06/13/2004 - 3:23pm


Thanks to Goto1784 for the tip. I've looked up the Thule Goalpost. It's just what I need. I'm buying one tomorrow.

Regards. Dano (Toronto, Canada)


#3 Mon, 06/14/2004 - 10:08am


i seen dis 2 racks used on east coast, with OCs and rowing shells.
(1) Adirondack Racks <www.adirondackrowing.com/economy_shell_rack.htm> and (2) Burnham Boat Slings <www.burnhamboatslings.com/BurnhamSite/front.html>. dey both costs about $200. look nice. i talked to some folks who have one or da other one, and dey really swear by it. both have spread adjustable to 6 feet. gotta own thule or yakima car rack first.

from what i observe, dey look a lot more simple to strap down da boat den what i have. my oc1 about 22' and i get 1 set of Yakima hully rollers paired with a set of mako saddles (42" spread at bars, non adjustable). cost was about $100 + rack. if i had to buy again, I would get one of da other ones b/c mine is such a hassle (i.e., shark straps hassle to hook-up; ; cradle not hull-shaped, so I added foam cut outs, etc.). for my short trips to the lake, though, it's all i need. to be safe, when i have to drive far with the canoe, i always strap down front and back. so far, so good.


#4 Mon, 06/14/2004 - 10:23am


I'm surprised 5' isn't enough. I set my truck's rack at about 5' because it holds the canoe at it's strongest area. I recently drove over 1500 miles on vacation with it and had no problems, and I never tiedown the front or back. My rack is rated at 1000 lbs, so the only way I'm losing my boat is if the straps break or the boat physically breaks apart.

Also be aware that your rack could actually rip off of your car (rather than your boat or saddles or straps giving way). I know a guy who had 2 kayaks on his minivan...it actually ripped the entire rack unit right off the top of his car while driving down the interstate. The kayaks were still tightly attached to the saddles and rack, flipping down the interstate...


#5 Mon, 06/14/2004 - 11:41am


thanks a lot hayn, those adirondack racks were just what i was looking for


#6 Mon, 06/14/2004 - 3:55pm


although you have already purchased the Thule I ahve been using a sculling shell rack. I purchased mine here in Canada through Hudson Boat Works.. for around $170 CDN... works great!


#7 Fri, 09/10/2004 - 8:36am


i just got that adirondack rack the other day, the thing is really great... but a huge rip off.. all it is, is two yakima cross bars connected to two long thule cross bars whic are all connected by some metal pieces screwed together.. then you attach some more metal pieces to your car, screw it together.. and voila, extend a two foot wide rack to a 6 foot wide rack.. it's beautiful, if anyone wants i can go take some pictures of the rack and anyone could get a pretty good idea on how to build it themselves, would be like $60 worth of equipment (i think the cross bars are expensive), an hour of time to buy the stuff and 20 minutes to put it together... but its well worth it, and not worth ordering online


#8 Fri, 09/10/2004 - 9:31am


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