Sib On Car Roof

[lawrence567]

Afternoon guys,

I have another Noob question to ask.
I have a plastimo SIB.
I'm getting increasingly bored of inflating & deflating at the shore side.
My question is, (i don't have a roof rack).
What is the issue with attaching the the boat to the roof, so the bottom of the boat is on the roof of the car?
Everyone always seems to say you should fit the boat upside down.
However the oar locks etc will scratch the top of my car.
The car is an 04 Scenic, without roof rails & bars.
I despise having to put the seats down for a few reasons.
I have a couple of kiddie car seats to put in the car & meaning i have to put the seats down means taking them out & they're a complete pig to get back in again.
I live about 3 miles from where i launch the boat, is there any reason why the boat cant go on it's bottom on the roof?

Many Thanks

[m chappelow]

Going 3 miles at a stready speed i dont think there would be a problem ,
though not too sure about doing it without no roof rack of some sort.

main reason why most carry them upsidedown on a car is the bow deadrise will cause lift if doing moderate speeds,could cause damage to boat and rip off the roof rack ,and cause car stability problems on a motorway .upside down will cause the boat to press down rather than try take off !.

seen some sausage inflatable roof pads for carring canoes and the like. they wrap around the car roof and the straps fasten up in the car ,

[treerat]

If you're serious about this I'd go get a roof rack.

I used to transport my 3.83m this way and it worked a treat

[kubcat]

I only live a few hundred metres from the the nearest ramp and I often carry my SIB strapped to the car with a ratchet strap. Also carry my surfboard the same way. Just use a beach towel between the car and surfboard to stop it scratching.

I have had the surfboard at 110km/h and it was rock solid. The SIB I have never needed to go over 50km/h and has been fine. I do carry it upside down as the V-floor makes it unstable if the right way up.

[lawrence567]

It's 3 miles of 30 limits so i won't be lighting the tyres up at all...
I'm considering getting a roof rack, but one of those soft jobbies, my brother has a Rhinon one for carrying surfboards / kayaks & paddleboards on, i bought a ruksports one but it was absolutely useless.
I'd obviously be getting some ratchets as well.

[Max...]

I switched to doing this for the same reason - only takes 20 mins or so to inflate and set up but it's a pain all round. Popping it on the roof (presuming you have a nice big garage to store it in) makes so much sense. Ready to go as soon as you hit the beach/river, no need to dry it before packing or if in the sea set it all up again at home to wash it down, etc, etc.

I have a 110 Land Rover (with a very long roof) and my 340 sits beautifully on top with the tubes resting all the way along each side - you need to mount it upside down with the bow pointing down over the windscreen, snug as a glove. I run 750KG ratchet straps through the rear handles and over the boat floor at the rear, same again at the front but through the front bridle rings and then one from the rear transom down to the rear tow point - that way it is held down super tight and cannot move front/back - there is so much friction between the tubes and roof that it does not move a mm.

Did 30 miles likes this yesterday up to 50mph and felt perfectly confident in it. Unlike the time I took a mattress on the top of a Series III roofrack with one little rope - and it flew off the back...

The long lengths of thick pipe lagging are useful as cushions if your roor/SIB has odd shapes.

[lawrence567]

Cool, thanks, i've just ordered a soft rack & some decent straps

[Max...]

Finally got round to taking some pics from yesterday - cannot stress how well this works - takes a few minutes each end to load or unload and having it inflated all the time but without needing a trailer is a joy.

Obviously in these pics the straps holding it down have mostly been removed!

[lawrence567]

Yup,

Works perfectly on mine aswell!
I have to take the aerial off but it's no issue as it just screws on & off.
the inflatable rack holds it fine & i pass 2 long straps through the car, i tested it by pushing it as hard as i could from behing & from the front & it did'nt move.
Saves me loads of time & buckets of sweat pumping the thing up at each end!
Although i do remove the air-deck & deflate the keel.
It also means the seats stay up & the engine just fits in the boot on its own.
Boat goes lovely with the 7.5hp on the back btw

[stevessub]

i have a ali floor honwave, would it be a good idea to remove the floor if i was to roof mount it,

[azzurro]

Originally Posted by stevessub

i have a ali floor honwave, would it be a good idea to remove the floor if i was to roof mount it,

Removing the air deck does not require to deflate the boat. But removing the alu floor does.

[Amukinado]

Is this a good idea or is the boat too big?

[Bigmuz7]

Ideal test guys ... get the roof rack out and blow up the SIB in the living room .. check how it will sit,.. grab a beer.... sit in it .. and watch some telly .. observe look on good lady's face .. ignore ...get more beer .. important research you see ?

[lockieboi]

3.8 meter Ali floor SIB on the roof.

Takes two to get it on and off though!

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Turn it upside down. Better airflow.

[kaman]

Originally Posted by Amukinado

Is this a good idea or is the boat too big?

Traffic cops will have a field day sticking you on for carrying an unsafe load with this set up!
Unless you are travelling sub 5 miles and sub 40 mph you are going to come a cropper with the coppers with this load.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by kaman

Traffic cops will have a field day sticking you on for carrying an unsafe load with this set up!
Unless you are travelling sub 5 miles and sub 40 mph you are going to come a cropper with the coppers with this load.

If it's secure and not going to come off surely it isn't unsafe ?
I think I'd try it other way up as suggested but other than that if it's well secured I don't see what you could be "done" for

[Amukinado]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

Turn it upside down. Better airflow.

Yes, it's probably better. Note taken.

Originally Posted by kaman

Traffic cops will have a field day sticking you on for carrying an unsafe load with this set up!
Unless you are travelling sub 5 miles and sub 40 mph you are going to come a cropper with the coppers with this load.

You say that because the boat is too big? From my interpretation of the code I am not breaking any rules. The safety part is always debatable. If the boat is indeed properly strapped, it won't go anywhere. How can they prove the opposite?

BTW, my current idea is to turn the boat upside down, put two straps on the middle section, another strap from the front handle and rings to the car tow eye and a fourth strap on the front rings to the car rack.

[kaman]

Originally Posted by Amukinado

Yes, it's probably better. Note taken.

You say that because the boat is too big? From my interpretation of the code I am not breaking any rules. The safety part is always debatable. If the boat is indeed properly strapped, it won't go anywhere. How can they prove the opposite?

BTW, my current idea is to turn the boat upside down, put two straps on the middle section, another strap from the front handle and rings to the car tow eye and a fourth strap on the front rings to the car rack.

As your Sib is depicted in this thread there is too much of an overhang above the top of front the door pillars.
There will be too much airflow coming up from your windscreen at anything above 40 mph for it to be deemed safe.
In the UK if the Sib flexed / wobbled in transit you would be charged and it would be up to you to prove that the load was safe!
Remember most roofs are only rated to take 75 ish kg.
With the upward force generated at speed combined with the Sib weight you will easily exceed this weight / stress.
Courts and coppers here love fixed penalty tickets for traffic violations!
You would be cannon fodder with that set up.
Trust me............. I know.

[Amukinado]

Originally Posted by kaman

As your Sib is depicted in this thread there is too much of an overhang above the top of front the door pillars.
There will be too much airflow coming up from your windscreen at anything above 40 mph for it to be deemed safe.
In the UK if the Sib flexed / wobbled in transit you would be charged and it would be up to you to prove that the load was safe!
Remember most roofs are only rated to take 75 ish kg.
With the upward force generated at speed combined with the Sib weight you will easily exceed this weight / stress.
Courts and coppers here love fixed penalty tickets for traffic violations!
You would be cannon fodder with that set up.
Trust me............. I know.

Well, either you're a police officer or it happened to you.

So you're saying I shouldn't transport my sib on the roof top at all or that I should consider another setup?