Laser dinghy.. on top of my little Jap car?
Discussion
Looking in to getting a Laser 1 sailing dinghy, but I don't have a tow bar and most of the cheaper boats do not have road trailers included.
Is it possible to car top a Laser on to my Honda Civic? I know the boat would probably support the car but what about the other way around? :-)
Thanks chaps
Is it possible to car top a Laser on to my Honda Civic? I know the boat would probably support the car but what about the other way around? :-)
Thanks chaps
Jackleman said:
Looking in to getting a Laser 1 sailing dinghy, but I don't have a tow bar and most of the cheaper boats do not have road trailers included.
Is it possible to car top a Laser on to my Honda Civic? I know the boat would probably support the car but what about the other way around? :-)
Thanks chaps
I did see a car go past me with an upside-down boat on it's roof a while ago, looked very amusing I must say but I guess that means it's doable...? This was a big 4x4 of some kind though, not a civic. Oh please, if you do it, take a picture or two.....Is it possible to car top a Laser on to my Honda Civic? I know the boat would probably support the car but what about the other way around? :-)
Thanks chaps
be wary of the weight rating of the roofrack!
I had a Suzuki Baleno Estate with roof-rails, so bought some cross-bars and put the laser on the roof - noticed the roof-rails bending quite a bit, so checked the manual - max 30kg on them
- the cross-bars Id bought were OK to 100kg.
if the bars you buy can cope with the weight of the boat and trolley, go for it!!!
someone I know put a 420 on the roof of an AstraGTE, and drove it all the way to Keil-week!
I had a Suzuki Baleno Estate with roof-rails, so bought some cross-bars and put the laser on the roof - noticed the roof-rails bending quite a bit, so checked the manual - max 30kg on them
- the cross-bars Id bought were OK to 100kg.if the bars you buy can cope with the weight of the boat and trolley, go for it!!!
someone I know put a 420 on the roof of an AstraGTE, and drove it all the way to Keil-week!
I've often seen it done on small cars. Weight won't be a problem (60kg ish?) but windage might be. Make sure you take it easy on exposed stretches where you may get crosswinds. That said, the reduction in fuel economy will mean you won't want to go too fast anyway.
Remember that the bow eye is only for a painter and isn't strong enough to be used as a main tie down point under any real tension. Also be sure to use some pipe lagging or the like on the roofrack to prevent damage to the hull.
Remember that the bow eye is only for a painter and isn't strong enough to be used as a main tie down point under any real tension. Also be sure to use some pipe lagging or the like on the roofrack to prevent damage to the hull.
I used to have a laser 1 and personally I wouldn't roof top it.
It is possible in theory but do as I did and get a second hand combi trailer.
If you roof top it, also consider launch and recovery side of things, or are you planning always to borrow someone else's trolley? Or if you have a trolley of your own you have to roof top that as well, just don't imho.
It is possible in theory but do as I did and get a second hand combi trailer.
If you roof top it, also consider launch and recovery side of things, or are you planning always to borrow someone else's trolley? Or if you have a trolley of your own you have to roof top that as well, just don't imho.
Uffa Fox actually ued to car top his Flying Fifteen when he designed it...keel off of course! And Andy Paterson of Bloodaxe used to car top his Cherub to mainland events to save IOW ferry costs.
But TBH don't bother, just tow it. If you want to do it on a budget all sailing clubs tend to have the "dead trailer" pile where you'd be able to pull something out the weeds for a donation to the RNLI and make it half decent with some new bearings and wheels. Take a trip to your local scrappy, you'll often find a car the same as yours with a towbar on it that's yours for £30...
But TBH don't bother, just tow it. If you want to do it on a budget all sailing clubs tend to have the "dead trailer" pile where you'd be able to pull something out the weeds for a donation to the RNLI and make it half decent with some new bearings and wheels. Take a trip to your local scrappy, you'll often find a car the same as yours with a towbar on it that's yours for £30...
Hard-Drive said:
Uffa Fox actually ued to car top his Flying Fifteen when he designed it...keel off of course! And Andy Paterson of Bloodaxe used to car top his Cherub to mainland events to save IOW ferry costs.
A Cherub weighs f all, but I do know that Olympians of the seventy`s used to car top flying Dutchmen largely for that reason.F i F said:
I used to have a laser 1 and personally I wouldn't roof top it.
It is possible in theory but do as I did and get a second hand combi trailer.
If you roof top it, also consider launch and recovery side of things, or are you planning always to borrow someone else's trolley? Or if you have a trolley of your own you have to roof top that as well, just don't imho.
I only need to roof top it for the initial purchase, once I get it home I am sorted as I live by a muddy creek! It is possible in theory but do as I did and get a second hand combi trailer.
If you roof top it, also consider launch and recovery side of things, or are you planning always to borrow someone else's trolley? Or if you have a trolley of your own you have to roof top that as well, just don't imho.
Yep used to put a laser on the roof of our car, and went on holiday in my mums 1.0 metro with my topper on the roof when i was about 11. She didnt have a clue about sailing so left me to tie it down for the return journey. It didnt fall off - I was well chuffed!
As another poster said remember the painter loop isn't strong enough to use as a tie down, but do make sure you do tie the front of the boat down to your front towing eye or somewhere equally as sturdy as any gust of wind from a passing truck could cause some serious uplift.
As another poster said remember the painter loop isn't strong enough to use as a tie down, but do make sure you do tie the front of the boat down to your front towing eye or somewhere equally as sturdy as any gust of wind from a passing truck could cause some serious uplift.
the 1 litre nova that was my first car coped fairly happily with a Laser on the roof or on a road trailer... it also teaches a lot about trailer handling ...
a laser correctly positioned on the roof of a Cavalier/ Vectra makes a very effective sunshade as well as having a minimal effect on fuel consumption - at one one not uncommon to see my Dad's ent behind and my laser on top of Dad's Cavalier/ Vectra
a laser correctly positioned on the roof of a Cavalier/ Vectra makes a very effective sunshade as well as having a minimal effect on fuel consumption - at one one not uncommon to see my Dad's ent behind and my laser on top of Dad's Cavalier/ Vectra
I used to car top my laser on fiat uno and citroen AX, sometimes it would be on the car for a week or so at a time - depending on when my flat mate was home to give me a hand lifting it off.
Just make sure you have a decent set of roof bars - either one from the car manufacturer or a decent Thule or whatever - I had a cheap one from halfords once, which collapsed on the first roundabout after leaving the laser centre in banbury. Lots of rope later and no more than 30mph got me back to norwich with the boat intact - there was a nice ding in the bonnet of my uno!
Just make sure you have a decent set of roof bars - either one from the car manufacturer or a decent Thule or whatever - I had a cheap one from halfords once, which collapsed on the first roundabout after leaving the laser centre in banbury. Lots of rope later and no more than 30mph got me back to norwich with the boat intact - there was a nice ding in the bonnet of my uno!
Put one on..better that then spending money for paint / panel damage.
Also when putting on the roof I have seen it late destroy car window when coming off the beach with gritty sand falling into window seals.
Laser is a good bit bigger and heavier than a topper and they are bad enough.
If you are either small or not to strong getting a laser over head high on the roof of a motor is not that easy.
Also when putting on the roof I have seen it late destroy car window when coming off the beach with gritty sand falling into window seals.
Laser is a good bit bigger and heavier than a topper and they are bad enough.
If you are either small or not to strong getting a laser over head high on the roof of a motor is not that easy.
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