I found a nice deal on a little 12ft boat with seats and a trolling motor for 250, no battery/charger but that's not the problem. Problem is I own a car and no trailer. Id mainly be using it on my lake in the backyard but probably taking it to other local holes. I was thinking taking some foam noodles and slipping them over the gunwales to give a better grab onto the car and prevent some damage to my car roof. Maybe instead of noodles use something with a little more grip? Obviously anchor down the front and rear and throw another ratchet strap over the middle. Anybody do something like this? Success, or Absolute critical failure?

Depends how much you like your paint I suppose. 

You can use the same foam chucks that are sold for canoes. There little foam blocks that fit on the gunnel and rest on the roof. You can find them at most outdoor stores.

1 hour ago, sully420 said:

You can use the same foam chucks that are sold for canoes. There little foam blocks that fit on the gunnel and rest on the roof. You can find them at most outdoor stores.

Yeah I used those blocks for my kayak a few years ago, the ones with the sticky rubber bottom. I'll have to see if they they make those same blocks that can run the length of the gunwales then that would be way better than noodles!

How big a ole boy are you?

 

Ya gonna pick that up & put on the roof by you self?

 

Thule rack and save the car..........and it is much harder than you think.

 

i would get a bolt on trailer hitch and used trailer and be done with it

You might make funniest home vedio hall of fame!

Tom

3 hours ago, Catt said:

How big a ole boy are you?

 

Ya gonna pick that up & put on the roof by you self?

 

big boy say he gonna go fishing one way or another!

A trailer would be key. I know it can be intimidating but once you learn its way ez. I can't tell you how many kayak guys I've seen spent two hours loading and unloading their kayak when I just dropped my boat in and  pull my boat out and go home.

Totally depends on the weight of the boat.  Even with foam pads I'd be afraid of denting the roof.  Most of today's auto's seem like they are made out of recycled beer can aluminum.  2nd problem would be getting it up there without trashing the roof.  After all, you can't just pick it up and set it straight down on the roof.  3rd problem, I'm OCD about my vehicles and would probably have a seizure before I could even attempt it.  ?

Without a strong roof rack...In addition to scratching the paint, I'd be concerned about it denting/mishaping the roof.  Anything other than a very strong and rigid system is fraught with potential problems.  When you cinch it down, and if the boat shifts in transit, it could potentially do some very unpleasant things to your car roof.  A short drive to the local pond might be doable but a long trek at highway speeds...not a very good idea IMO.

The more I thought about it the more i didn't like the idea. Think I'll go the kayak route. Used to have one and put it on my car with those foam blocks with the non surface slip underneath...never had a problem at highway speeds.

On 5/15/2018 at 7:19 PM, sully420 said:

A trailer would be key. I know it can be intimidating but once you learn its way ez. I can't tell you how many kayak guys I've seen spent two hours loading and unloading their kayak when I just dropped my boat in and  pull my boat out and go home.

Ya just trying to spend a couple hundo for a fishing vessel. Don't feel like buying a trialer too. The only time I ever backed one is (err, attempted) was down in Alabama on the BR Guntersville trip back in 2012. I forget whose boat it was but I can't believe they let me try to back it in. Ended up just looking like a doofus and sure did catch a ribbing!