islandgun Posted July 18, 2015 Report Share Posted July 18, 2015 Just bought a 3m car toppable dinghy to allow me to launch, and fish from some remote spots that a trailer wouldn't get too, the boat weighs 54kg and goes on an old lwb shogun my problem is its a struggle to get on and off the roof, does anyone have any ideas or experience of getting a boat onto a car they could share Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted July 18, 2015 Report Share Posted July 18, 2015 Rope and pulley arrangement in a shed, garage or barn? Hoist it up, drive underneath then lower it down again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted July 18, 2015 Report Share Posted July 18, 2015 deflate dinghy, place on roof, inflate dinghy, job done, simples Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted July 18, 2015 Report Share Posted July 18, 2015 Have a look on youtube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted July 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2015 thanks men, it was at the shore I wanted to load/unload, ( its a glass boat ) and good point about utube cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 thanks men, it was at the shore I wanted to load/unload, ( its a glass boat ) and good point about utube cheers The guy on youtube with the red one going onto the back of a 4x4 made it look easy. oh ok easy ish :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 PM Pavman on this forum. He's been lugging boats about on the roof of his truck for years. Think he has some fancy sliding system. His current boat is an indian type canoe. Quite heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xK3dyN1Us0 This one looks good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 IG, I suggest making lots of bread by hand as this will make your arms stronger to lift the wee dinghy up. I hope this helps......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xK3dyN1Us0 This one looks good. I bet you'd love to go shopping with him Good video though..... That boat looks like a nice light Ali one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 Doh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 I bet you'd love to go shopping with him Good video though..... That boat looks like a nice light Ali one Like shopping as long as its not just groceries, but the Scottish islands are a bit far to go shopping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted July 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xK3dyN1Us0 This one looks good. Thanks Lg That is a sweet idea very professional I will definitely look into it, the boat weighs 120lb which I thought I would manage ! im thinking of a couple of runners and to load from the side, I have a trolley which slides over the transom which allows the boat to be pushed about quite well (upside down) I will post a picture when/if I sort it out. cheers IG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 Doh Someone's sharp today, we knead people like you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 (edited) Two lengths of timber (4x4) with four shelf brackets screwed to them, two brackets per length, say one at 3ft and the other at 4 1/2 - 5ft on each timber length. Each timber should be longer that the roof rack's height so that they can be laid at an angle of 45 degrees'ish. Lay the boat gunnel down, bow forward resting on the timbers. Lift one end of the boat onto the 1st bracket and then the other end. Repeat with second bracket and then slide onto roof. You take the timbers with you to load the boat wherever you go. If I can, I'll take some pictures from a book that I have showing this method. Edited July 20, 2015 by Penelope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalahari Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 There are devices for helping the disabled load wheelchairs onto a car roof which might be adaptable. David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 There are devices for helping the disabled load wheelchairs onto a car roof which might be adaptable. David. Trouble is as soon as it is something designed for disabled they think of a figure then double it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted July 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Two lengths of timber (4x4) with four shelf brackets screwed to them, two brackets per length, say one at 3ft and the other at 4 1/2 - 5ft on each timber length. Each timber should be longer that the roof rack's height so that they can be laid at an angle of 45 degrees'ish. Lay the boat gunnel down, bow forward resting on the timbers. Lift one end of the boat onto the 1st bracket and then the other end. Repeat with second bracket and then slide onto roof. You take the timbers with you to load the boat wherever you go. If I can, I'll take some pictures from a book that I have showing this method. Great stuff thats the sort of thing I was looking for, basically lift 300mm at a time, any info on how deep/long the brackets are ? cheers IG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Yeah, pretty much, one side then the other, a bit like walking it up the timbers with the brackets taking the weight as you lift the other side. As for bracket size, ones that will support the boat, 9" should do. I have not used this myself but have a book by Phil Harper 'Angling Afloat' that has a pictorial step by step explanation. As I said I try and scan the pages for you. Great stuff thats the sort of thing I was looking for, basically lift 300mm at a time, any info on how deep/long the brackets are ? cheers IG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grrclark Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Thule do a product called the Hullavator that uses gas struts to help lift, although i think it is really designed for kayaks and canoes. There is also this product http://www.aswatersports.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?cPath=38_75&products_id=1897&osCsid=c2498252018019c41af99df42e4ce398 I have also seen someone use a tow hitch mounted system that allowed the boat to be loaded from the rear of the car, no idea if it was a commercial system or a home made affair. It was basically a T shaped support that pivoted around the tow ball so you could push the boat forward and up whilst the arm took most of the weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted July 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Thanks again everyone. I like simple (no surprise there then) so the wooden ramp appeals, I was wondering if there would be any benefit in cutting and fixing wooden wedges, which perhaps could be greased to allow a push and lift motion, I will keep you posted, cheers IG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie10 Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Get a friend to take fishing with you they can lift it for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Thanks again everyone. I like simple (no surprise there then) so the wooden ramp appeals, I was wondering if there would be any benefit in cutting and fixing wooden wedges, which perhaps could be greased to allow a push and lift motion, I will keep you posted, cheers IG I think wooden triangles will help like the brackets LG mentioned. They will be cheap and you can move them about as you need to. With the 45degree angle on the underside, if you catch it on the way up, the little bracket (triangle) will help the top gunnel ride over it and catch above. So the top face of the triangle is at 90 degrees to the main timber but the whole thing is leaning on the vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 (edited) Edited July 21, 2015 by Penelope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushandpull Posted July 21, 2015 Report Share Posted July 21, 2015 There are not many places that a short trailer with decent ground clearance will not go behind a big strong vehicle. Perhaps you should think again. Two points that become clear when you do a bit of cartopping are : Some posters may not realise that it becomes exponentially more difficult to shove a dinghy on by any means as the vehicle roof height increases. e.g. Laser onto Volvo estate = easy. Laser onto Landrover = call your mate who plays in the second row. Time and money spent on making/adapting a trailer is an investment when you come to sell the boat on. Time and money spent on making a oneoff ramp has gone. Obviously it CAN be done - Practical Boat Owner once had an article on cartopping a Wayfarer (180 kg ?) - but I forget the good reason the chap had for doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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