Yakima Bowdown Kayak Rack

[zjennings]

Getting my 08 RTL on Tuesday and ordering 2 Wilderness Tarpon 160i Angler sit-on-top kayaks soon. I am thinking about going with two Yakima Bowdown sets to carry the kayaks on the factory rack (attaching one Bowdown set to each side).

Any opinions on the matter? I like the fact that the Bowdown folds down when not in use. Most of the time I will be carrying them is for short trips (probably less than 2 hours) except for the beginning and end of sumer (bring them from PA up to Cape Cod in May then back to PA in September).

Thanks,
Zach

[zjennings]

In case anyone wants to see the kayak:

Tarpon 160i Angler Kayak - Wilderness Systems


That's it. I was up in Maine for Kittery Trading Post (KTP) Kayak Demo day. I highly recommend it if you can. There were hundreds of kayaks to demo, tons of paddles and PFD as well. The 160i will definitely be the best kayak for my Salt Water Fly Fishing.


Link to the Yakima Bowdown:

Yakima BowDown - Yakima Kayak, Canoe and Surf Racks

z

[zjennings]

Kayak Demo Day at KTP

June 14

Kittery Trading Post - KTP Events: Other Events & Seminars

[Altamont]

those fishing kayaks are cool, wish I had one. a kayak that burly might be hard to load on the J style rack like the bow down. unless you're tall enough to hoist it up there from the side. some of the kayak cradles will allow you to slide the kayak on , from back to front or front to back. the J racks are designed not to slide, for obvious reasons, like your kayak passing you on the highway. J racks are very secure however, once you get your boat on it

[zjennings]

I'll just load them from the side. They are a little heavy (65 lbs.), but I'm a strong guy. Not to mention, there will hardly be a time when I am loading/unloading them by myself.

Maybe I'll keep a small step stool under the back seat to help me get them up there.

z

[Altamont]

I think you'd need J racks to to fit them up there - I wasn't thinking about those fishing kayaks being a little wide by design and that you're using the factory rack. if you have Joe's Sports there Yakima is 20 per cent off right now