How big a tender could I fit on the roof of my car?

[sail sail]

I am looking to buy a new (or secondhand) inflatable tender and want something as big as possible that will fit onto the roof of my mid size car. Ideally fully inflated, but maybe one that can be partially deflated before lashing on. What do you think?

 

[James_Calvert]

What is the max roof loading?
Actually, I think the limiting factor will be the rigidity of the tender between and overhanging the roofbars. A 14ft Laser is cartoppable, but it's pretty rigid!

 

[clyst]

What car is it ? how fit are you for lifting ? Before you ask I guess you will need about 4meters of string that's x 2 for front and back .

 

[charles_reed]

I'd definitely not consider transporting an inflated inflatable any distance on the top of any car.

Having move one for a couple of miles I can assure you that, however well it's tied on, it vibrates, is noisy and gets damaged too easily.
I did once move a Redstart from one end of Aberdovey to the the other and that was sufficient for me.
A rigid tender is a different bet.

You'll be better off getting a 12v pump, like the LVM and deflating/reflating the dinghy.

 

[Kelpie]

Why not just get a £5 12v pump? Much easier, I would have thought.

 

[G12]

Or get a foot pump and benefit from a little exercise....

 

[Eyore]

Uffa Fox used to stick a Flying Fifteen on the roof of a Humber Sceptre with the keel in the boot. Not sure you'd get away with it these days.

 

[Zarro]

Actually a Humber Super Snipe and the keel went behind the front seats. Uffa Fox "Sailing Boats" 1959 P92. He took Coweslip to Scotland like that, sailed on the Clyde then on to the Solway Yacht Club, where I learned to sail, and inaugurated the new slipway.

 

[Eyore]

Actually a Humber Super Snipe and the keel went behind the front seats. Uffa Fox "Sailing Boats" 1959 P92. He took Coweslip to Scotland like that, sailed on the Clyde then on to the Solway Yacht Club, where I learned to sail, and inaugurated the new slipway.

Knew it was summit like that, couldent be bothered to dig out the book, thanks for clarifying.

 

[doug748]

Ten foot would be my limit. Upside down, with a stout line to the front bumper

By the time you have humped it up there and tied it on, you might wish you hadn't bothered. It's ok for short, slow journeys. As the dinghy will rinse the car with salt water, probably best if you run an old rotter.

 

[prv]

I didn't catch the "inflatable" bit in the OP, and was about to post some thoughts on how big a rigid dinghy one could sensibly carry.

If it's inflatable, why not just roll it up and chuck it in the boot?

Pete

 

[Sandy]

I am looking to buy a new (or secondhand) inflatable tender and want something as big as possible that will fit onto the roof of my mid size car. Ideally fully inflated, but maybe one that can be partially deflated before lashing on. What do you think?

I have a foot pump. 10 mins and the dingy is inflated.

 

[oldharry]

The car handbook will give you the max permissible all up weight for a roof load, and in modern cars its surprisingly low. Uffa F would never have been allowed to do it nowadays! Inflatable is probably within the limit, if it doesnt have floorboards, but much easier as others say to deflate it and carry it inside. The plod loves overloaded roof racks because its so obvious, and ups their detection figures.

 

[Lakesailor]

11ft. Regularly drove 8 miles with it. Slow country lanes though. Rubbish tender.

 

[LadyInBed]

Inflatable - roll it up. Too much windage and extra fuel consumption for anything but very short journeys.
Hard dingy - I clamped wooden planks to roof bars to extend the sides to allow X and square tie down. The most important tie is the painter to the front bumper or these days, the tow point.
Ed just looked at the pic above, I would always put dingy on inverted, less chance of wind getting under and lifting roof bars et al off the roof!

 

[Lakesailor]

At 30 mph?

 

[Even Chance]

Many times Ive had my inflatable on the roof of the wifes old Pug 306 between my house and the harbour, say a mile in the town. No roof bars, turn the dinghy upside down and strap it down to the roof. Few scratches to the paint from the rowlock pins whilst throwing it up there by myself, and tie the painter to the front towing eye on the bumper. Jobs a good un....
My dinghy is a Silverline Seabo with 3 plywood floor panels and an inflatable keel below. Its great when its in the water, and planes at 20kts with an 8HP 2 stroke, but assembly is a real PITA, as the boards are a tight fit and they only fit when its half-inflated.
I therefore put it together in the garage and then leave it afloat in the marina for some fun as required. A wee scrub every few weeks and its all good.

The wife still doesnt know about the many scratches on her roof! lol That car is long gone anyway.

I now transport it using my Mirror Dinghy trailer. Just throw it on top of the Mirror and away we go......

 

[LadyInBed]

At 30 mph?

and 20mph headwind

 

[rotrax]

Used to carry a cheapo Pride and Clark 16 foot plywood dinghy on the roof rack of a Peugeot 403 estate car. Inverted, tied down really well.

Did'nt even make it flinch-look back at old wildlife TV shows about Africa and see what the locals carried on those babies!

I dont think I would try it with a modern car though.

The Peugeot 403-we had two, a saloon and then the estate-were among the best cars we have ever had.

 

[Haven't-a-Clue]

I am looking to buy a new (or secondhand) inflatable tender and want something as big as possible that will fit onto the roof of my mid size car. Ideally fully inflated, but maybe one that can be partially deflated before lashing on. What do you think?

Some years back I had a Honwave 3.2m and used to travel regularly between Horsham(ish) and Itchenor with it tied onto a home made wooden rack on my Audi 100 (couldn't justify the cost of the proper item). Kept below 60 mph and no bother at all. Would probably do it again with the Passat as now have a 2.7m Honwave and all the ratchet straps in the garage somewhere.

edit: mounted upside down.