Anyone Kayak here?
 

I like to go kayak fishing, and will sometimes launch from the surf. This will cause some sand to stick to the bottom of the yak and is very very prone to cause scratches. Also, the shark fin will not make loading the kayak any easier.
Anyone have a kayak rack on their x5s? What do you use?

I don't know what the odds are of having two kayaking threads in one week, but vinuneuro asked this same question last week in this thread and nodody responded.

Any kayakers here?

oh, he was asking in regards to getting into the hobby.
i am already in the hobby, i trying to see my options between thule and yakima racks for loading up a 12.5 feet Wilderness Tarpon kayak built for fishing :)
i had the temporary yak and scratched up my old car pretty bad!

Crazy... I'm currently looking into kayaks, but will likely end up with a plain old canoe. Mainly for river/swamp/bayou type adventures with the dslr camera and stuff. We like getting great nature shots in secluded natural environments, and there's no better way than that! We currently are limited to an old pirogue that needs to be retired.

But for my needs, a 2 person open top kayak with decent dry storage dosn't justify the price difference over the canoe... but I love the kayaks so much better! (it's honestly like the kayak is an Z4M and the canoe is a 525i)

I got ya. I thought it couldn't hurt to bring it up. Good luck with your search. I wish I could help, but unfortunately I don't know the first thing about it.

I have a thule set up. I can carry 4 kayaks on the roof. The racks work great but the wind noise from the load bars (thule 450 feet with 58" load bars) is quite loud. It is to the point wear I have to keep the sunroof closed when the rack is on the X. They go on and off in about 5 minutes so it isn't too bad.

I would like to go with a J type hook carrier, I currently use the Stacker, when I take 1 or 2 kayaks up to NH. I live in southern MA, and would like something easier to load by myself.

that looks like an easy set up, but I don't think that would work for single handedly loading a 80lb 13 ft kayak :) its amazing how you fit 4 surf yaks

What kayak are you using? I just bought a 12.5ft Wilderness Systems Tusnami and it only weigs 55 lbs, no fancy material either, just plastic hull. You probably want to get the Thule or Yakima rollers in the back with saddles in the front.

http://images.google.com/url?source=...O_vYaqtcCR07-Q

I have the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120, the thing weighs more than its stated, probably due to all the fishing mods done on it. With the rollers, you have to lift the kayak above your head, and risk scratching the x5. I think there is an option where you pull the rack out to load the kayak but i'm not sure what its called. (from yakima)

You may want to look at this:

2009 Thule 887XT SlipStream Kayak Rack - Complete System with Roller & Extension
The premium Thule 887XT SlipStream is an all-in-one complete kayak rack with front and rear kayak saddles plus an extending rear kayak roller lift assist. Simultaneously reduces effort required to load / unload kayak and also prevents any possible contact of kayak with rear of vehicle. Mounts directly to any factory rack crossbars as well as both Thule square load bars & elliptical Rapid Aero bars, Thule Xsporter truck rack, Inno Racks and Yakima round bars.http://ep.yimg.com/ca/Img/trans_1x1.gif

that looks like what i'm looking for. I wonder if Yakima makes the same?
thanks for that info ccarney!

EZ, maybe this 2009 Yakima ShowBoat Roof Rack Roller System 8004040 - Universal Yakima Kayak-Canoe Rollers

Just to resurrect an old thread I finally got tired of lazying around in the canoe and ordered my kayaks through the local outfitters!

After test driving the lot of them on a "demo day" I decided on the Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 kayak for me. It is honestly the smoothest gliding, most stable and best feeling 12" kayak I paddled around in and felt miles ahead of the competition! (I tried many different brands that day)

And I ordered the Hobie Mirage Revolution 12" kayak with the mirage drive pedal system and rudder etc. for my mother, I almost couldn't get her out of that one on the demo. (she almost wanted to paddle out of sight and load it on the X5 she loved it so much)

Picking them up this coming weekend so pics will be soon! (and pics of my home made kayak mounting bars for the roof rack! so happy I can weld good;))

We bought a kayak trailer. Can carry up to 4 and loads in about 2 mins.

For now, kayaks on top the truck and bikes on hitch receiver bike rack. Future, I'm welding up a pair of removable trees for my trailer to convert it to a kayak/canoe trailer in 2 minutes. I already have most of the materials needed for that project, just gotta pick up a couple more pieces of square tube...

I have more fun designing/welding than I do spending extra money, and don't have the room for a second trailer right now... By the time I'm done my crappy little 4x8 trailer is gonna be like an M4 sopmod, just slap on the accessories needed for that mission.

Got 'em wet today!
 

Finally picked up the kayaks yesterday and put them in the water today! I can say I am VERY happy with the decision I made on the Pungo 120, it is stable as can be, handles flawlessly and glides fast and effortlessly through the water like a hot knife through butter. And the Hobie kayak we got for my mom is pretty sweet too. Paddles well and has the mirage drive pedal system that does a great job pushing it through the water with a rudder steering system.

The homemade vertical racks I welded up worked out perfectly for mounting them up, but the damn eBay roof rack crossbars are bent now! I'm gonna either have to replace them or add some internal bracing... Ok, enough talk, pics now. :D