car Topable dinghies?

I did once, and once only, load my Mirror onto a roof rack single handed.

Realistically unless you are tall and strong anything even approaching the 100lbs weight of a Mirror hull is likely to be too heavy

The Easi Loader and similar devices make loading dinghies very much easier. I know someone who bought one of those and I have seen him ( and he is a real short-arse) load a Mirror easily

http://www.tridentuk.com/sailing/product-Easi_Loader-KTELRRCAN.html
 
The problem is getting it on to the roofrack without damaging the car. Here are some self-explanatory pics of one guy's DIY solution...

CarTop-view.jpg


CarTop-on%20rack.jpg


CarTop-lifted.jpg


CarTop-slide%20on.jpg


CarTop-disassemble.jpg


CarTop-loaded.jpg
 
I've done things like that. They work great in your drive. Then the variables start to kick in when you use them in earnest.

Topper
Minisail
 
Isn't this how the Topper got its' name ?

A very well designed, fun to sail boat if you suit it size & weight wise.

Even a Laser is a right heavy beast to get on a car roof, there are very few dinghies which are easy to do this with.
 
Seajet said:
Isn't this how the Topper got its' name ?

A very well designed, fun to sail boat if you suit it size & weight wise.

Even a Laser is a right heavy beast to get on a car roof, there are very few dinghies which are easy to do this with.
Click to expand...

I transported a Laser Pico on top of my car. Similar size and weight boat to a Topper Topaz.

It's a good 2 man lift for 2 strong people. Zero chance on your own unless you try the ramp method already posted.

It's also a bit wider than most car roof bars, so strap a bit of 2 by 2 timber to the bar to extend it each side.

By choice I would transport by trailer, MUCH easier.
 
Get a TOPPER, has been designed to fit on a roof rack; only 43 kg; the trolley fits on top of the Topper together with the spars; everything on the roof rack. Sails very well, fast and fun; I sail ours with my teenage son. Plenty for sale on ebay
 
He wants a boat that can be loaded by one person.

ProDave said:
I transported a Laser Pico on top of my car. Similar size and weight boat to a Topper Topaz.

It's a good 2 man lift for 2 strong people. Zero chance on your own unless you try the ramp method already posted.
Click to expand...
 
Well, if you are looking for something easy to load, what about something that weighs 30kg fully rigged...the lightest dinghy in the world? And in terms of "sails well", erm, is 33kts fast enough for you? Hydrofoiling moth...close the thread!:)

If that's all too mad, in all seriousness you could pick up a "low rider" pretty cheaply, fit foam buoyancy to the wings and there's no reason why someone with reasonable ability and a bit of persistence should not be fine in one.

If they are too light and too fast, other candidates would be...

-Europe
-Solution
-Hoot (not sure if you can get them in the UK)
-Farr 3.7
-MX Ray

Apparently Uffa Fox used to car top a Flying Fifteen with the keel removed back in the 50s!
 
Whilst I have seen everything up to a cabin cruiser on a roof rack, something up to Laser weight is about all that is really comfortable.
Does it really need to be lifted by one person? Most times I have easily found a helper to lift on and off at any sailing venue. And it is not too difficult to rig an arrangement to put on and off solo at the home base (my favourite was storing strapped to garage roof - then drop down onto car when needed)



PS watch the speed, need to travel slower than with a trailer - some fools hurtle along at huge speeds, with no idea of forces involved. Can easily rip the roof rails off the car. And seen a bow fitting pulled completely out of the bow when a strap failed and the boat sumersaulted backwards off the roof of a van onto the motorway, fortunately missing folks behind. Boat write off but not any killed. (we weren't driving it at the time)
 
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I used to carry a laser on top of a Cavalier. It was quite easy getting it on and off, but I did carry it "right way up", so I could slide it onto the roof rack from the back of the car. It was very stable, but probably not as aerodynamic as upside down.
 
Topper?

We went to Croatia and back this summer, what a great fun we had with our topper!
We did buy rig tube....
 
Anyone remember Barry Bucknell? I don't, I'm 46 but I have one of his roof racks designed to lift dingies if anyone is interested, only snag is it fixes on a cars guttering so you need an old car as well.

It has small 12" extensions that drop down so you can lean your Mirror Dinghy on them and just lift the boat up and slide it on to the rack!

I second a Pico but it's pretty big to go on a car...do-able though I should think at a push and with a blimmen good push!
 
There are lots of roof rack boat loaders available, but they can cost up to a couple of hundred quid. I Have loaded my Laser from the trolley using mine & then put the trolley on top of the hull.

You need space & a little time to do it safely (plus a bit of grass to do it from in case it slips) & it is still quite a load to lift. I'd also recomend a "disposable" car for the task so you won't burst into tears if it goes wrong.

I buy a Mondeo diesel off e-bay every few years (as the old one dies) specifically as my "work-horse" for towing, load carrying & general knockabout use. It is very reassuring if you mis-judge something & scrunch it a bit to know it really doesn't make any difference!
 
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