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10-11-2021, 08:18 AM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 4
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Roof mounting a rowing scull?
21’bambi Sport. As the photo illustrates, I have a 26’ boat and a 21’ trailer.
I’ve driven with configuration across several states, with no problems. Recently my spouse has expressed concerns about the significant frontal overhang..
The hull weights 20 lbs. and has very minimal frontal area. The only real solution is to get it up on the roof of the Airstream.. I’m tall, and the boat doesn’t weigh much, so getting it up there is not much of an issue. Securing the boat for travel is really my only concern.
I haven’t found any images of thing being mounted to the roof beyond solar panels.
I’d like to have two slings (similar to the carrier shown in the attached images) mounted to the roof. There are suction mounts which could work, but I am curious to know what options there are topside for attaching to.. Are the awning rails reliable point for strapping down from?
With enough surface area, is going the 3m route viable?
This is likely we’ll outside of what most would see as practical, but here we are.
Regards,
William
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10-11-2021, 08:45 AM
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#2
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,675
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Hi
If the entire scull is 20 pounds, weight isn't going to be the problem. The "big deal" is going to be the wind blast of a passing semi hitting the hull. That will put *way* more than 20 pounds on the mounting setup. The air blast hitting the bow has a lot of leverage relative to the mounts.
The "trick" to mounting the solar panels with tape is that the "feet" on the panels need to be a bit larger than you might think. Small feet mean less contact and the panel (maybe) comes off. The alternative is to run screws / rivets / bolts into the ribs of the trailer and mount that way. If I was doing this, that's what I would do ....
By the time you get a "cradle" up there to put the scull into, it's going to be pretty high up in the air. You need to clear various items on the roof over it's entire length ( trailer is way shorter than the scull .....). I'm only 6' 4" and I'd have a tough time getting it up there and strapped down without a ladder .... ( been there / done that with kayaks for a lot of years .... ).
Bob
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10-11-2021, 09:55 AM
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#3
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New Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uncle_bob
Hi
If the entire scull is 20 pounds, weight isn't going to be the problem. The "big deal" is going to be the wind blast of a passing semi hitting the hull. That will put *way* more than 20 pounds on the mounting setup. The air blast hitting the bow has a lot of leverage relative to the mounts.
The "trick" to mounting the solar panels with tape is that the "feet" on the panels need to be a bit larger than you might think. Small feet mean less contact and the panel (maybe) comes off. The alternative is to run screws / rivets / bolts into the ribs of the trailer and mount that way. If I was doing this, that's what I would do ....
By the time you get a "cradle" up there to put the scull into, it's going to be pretty high up in the air. You need to clear various items on the roof over it's entire length ( trailer is way shorter than the scull .....). I'm only 6' 4" and I'd have a tough time getting it up there and strapped down without a ladder .... ( been there / done that with kayaks for a lot of years .... ).
Bob
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Thanks for the reply Bob..
rib mounting the cradles does seem like the way to go (I’ll need to search for images and fastener option(any suggestions there?)). The wind blast from passing trucks isn’t terrible, even with the pictured setup, it’s there but I tend to just drift over a bit in preparation for a passing truck. The wash from behind a truck is more significant, so there’s no drafting when the scull is on the car, or I mount it on the passenger side..
The current carrier has a 12’ span, I could probably stretch that a tad or just add a bow attachment to reduce the load on the boat.
Despite being longer than the airstream, I imagine it would not increase the windage much if mounted low to the roof line. We pulled the tv out, so have no need for the antenna; this side of the roof would probably be the ideal location.
Sorting out ladder options is certainly a consideration. I was thinking of a telescopic ladder and some sort of suction rack to stabilize and keep the ladder off the trailer. Getting the boat up/down is one thing, but securing it will require a bit more interaction..
Should be an interesting project to sort out..
Wc
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10-11-2021, 11:16 AM
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#4
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,675
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Hi
I doubt you are going to find "stock" parts to put this up there. You will need to do some sort of custom fabrication to adapt a normal rack to the structure of the trailer. Since the trailer body curves in multiple directions, it will indeed be "interesting".
Mounting this side vs that side probably improves your odds in terms of blow off due to a truck going by. In this day and age of left hand exits and other such nonsense, you can never be sure what you will be up against. Same issue running in traffic and having a semi pull in 3 feet in front of your bumper .....That part would concern me a lot with your current setup.
Ladder wise, there are lots of options. The main thing is to spread the weight of the ladder out over a lot of trailer. (a foot or two vs a couple inches ....) The skin will not support much pressure. You very much do not want to dent your pretty AS
Fun !!
Bob
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10-11-2021, 07:28 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1988 32' Excella
Robbinsville
, New Jersey
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,116
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Putting the ladder against the awning spreads the weight quite a bit if you go up on the curb side. A big concern is the end caps are the most delicate/easiest to dent part of your Airstream.
EDIT: Not sure how safe it is if you have power awning though.
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10-12-2021, 09:14 AM
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#6
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2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Stevens Point
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 22
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I am no expert, but the scull appears to be upside down and it would be tippy rowing the attached load.
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10-12-2021, 09:26 AM
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#7
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Silver Star
1970 23' Safari
Victoria
, British Columbia
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 352
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what about a front hitch with a support bar to skull on TV?
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10-12-2021, 09:29 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2007 20' Safari
Old Orchard Beach
, Maine
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 509
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Mount your rack on your tow vehicle.
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10-12-2021, 10:49 AM
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#9
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Site Team
2002 25' Safari
Dewey
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,606
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Your current setup is not legal in many states. States that have limits are listed in the link.
http://nationwideexpressservices.wee...each_state.pdf
__________________
Richard
Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
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10-13-2021, 06:41 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2008 27' International FB
Petaluma
, California
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,343
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Quote:
Originally Posted by psy1
I am no expert, but the scull appears to be upside down and it would be tippy rowing the attached load.
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10-13-2021, 07:22 AM
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#11
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,675
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Quote:
Originally Posted by azflycaster
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Hi
That is one very cool document.
Looks like anything over 2' of front overhang isn't going to be 50 state legal. Texas seems to be the limiting factor. A lot of places appear to put a limit at 3'. I could easily have miss read the limits on a couple of states .....
Missing out on Texas would be a shame. There are more than a few really cool places to go rowing there.
Bob
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10-13-2021, 09:12 AM
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#12
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4 Rivet Member
2019 22' Sport
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 303
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I would get a different shell. Alden ocean shell or similar are 18’ long. One stiff wind and the front of that shell may be in jeopardy. I can’t imagine that thing isn’t dancing around that far out.
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10-14-2021, 07:17 AM
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#13
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,675
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Hi
As long as you aren't going around a sharp bend in a river ... longer is always better
Bob
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10-14-2021, 08:55 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7,620
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uncle_bob
Hi
As long as you aren't going around a sharp bend in a river ... longer is always better
Bob
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I pictured a left turn in town and sweeping all the sidewalk pedestrians off the curb. "oops, sorry, coming through, sorry."
Seriously, mounting the skull on the AS has a big advantage over solar panels. You can still run a line down to the A frame and another to the rear bumper. Whatever cradle is roof mounted won't be lifting up.
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10-14-2021, 09:26 AM
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#15
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New Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 4
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Out of necessity, I used this setup when driving the boat back from Louisiana to Ohio, via Texas.. saw plenty of highway patrols with no incidents.
I’m not saying it was in compliance with local laws, but this may be more of a loosely enforced code.. maybe.
I do have a shorter Alden Star, but this red boat is the one I race and need to get mire time in on the water. Hence the need to sort out a more “compliant” transport configuration.
I’m 6’5” and can manage the boat in a ladder, it’s mire about what methods are practical for securing a carrier to the roof of the Airstream.
With the TV antenna removed, I have the roof space. I suppose securing some tie down points onto ribs would be the most practical option, though I’ve never actually seen what the ribs look like to understand what my fastener options could be.
As for the boat moving around, it doesn’t wiggle more than an once or two in response to a large truck @ highway speeds. The hull is carbon fiber and quite stiff. The carrier has a 12’span and is bolted to the roof rack. On the new car, I’m using three crossbars to secure the carrier as I no longer have full length roof raingutters to attach the crossbars to.
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10-14-2021, 09:28 AM
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#16
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 19,977
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Welcome Aboard...👍
26Ft equals at least 5 grand, No?
Maybe go shorter and leave the long boy at home.
Which is more important...Streaming or Sculling?
I would not feel good about the Shell arriving that much sooner than I.
Safe travels....
Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
"You don't know where you've been until you leave, enjoy life" RLC
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10-15-2021, 07:09 AM
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#17
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,675
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Hi
My concern with the large front overhang would be some "fine person" cutting in front of you and clipping the skull. If you are over the limit for that state, you might be the one who gets the ticket. If there is significant damage to other vehicles as a result .... yikes .... I have no idea what the insurance would or would not cover. Might be worth looking into.
Bob
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10-15-2021, 10:36 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2008 27' International FB
Petaluma
, California
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,343
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I'm watching as my wife is a rower and we may need to travel with a shell on top in the future.
Regarding:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wc.
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"It was you to me who taught, In Jersey anything's legal as long as you don't get caught" - Bob Dylan
Brad
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10-15-2021, 10:59 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
1988 32' Excella
Robbinsville
, New Jersey
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,116
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It's a bit troubling that on this thread 6 people complained the the OP should stop doing what he is trying to figure out how to stop doing, since this thread is for him to get help with how to stop.
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10-16-2021, 07:34 AM
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#20
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,675
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wazbro
It's a bit troubling that on this thread 6 people complained the the OP should stop doing what he is trying to figure out how to stop doing, since this thread is for him to get help with how to stop.
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Hi
I see it as encouragement and further validation that he's on the right track.
Bob
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