Yakima ShowBoat on Thule AeroBlades for canoe

[BlkKnight]

I've seen several discussions about carrying canoes, so I thought I'd describe the equipment I chose for my 2013 4Runner. I have a Mad River Adventure 14 canoe, which is 14' long and weighs 75 lb. I wanted to be able to load it single handedly, so I researched various load assist devices and settled on the Yakima ShowBoat with 66" bars along with Yakima KeelOvers to hold the canoe.

The ShowBoat is a roller that can be used with various length bars to obtain the necessary extension to clear the rear spoiler. I didn't want to rest a 75 lb boat directly on the spoiler. When using the ShowBoat with a canoe, the instructions state that the bars should be mounted below your crossbars. This won't work on my 4Runner due to the shark fin antenna. I first looked into mounting the ShowBoat on top of the factory crossbars, but that still didn't provide the clearance I needed to get over the shark fin. So I added Thule 53" AeroBlades for the extra height and mounted the ShowBoat on top. I have the AeroBlades positioned at maximum spread in order to best support the canoe.

When the canoe is loaded, the front of the boat rests on the front KeelOvers. Due to mounting the ShowBoat on top of the AeroBlades to avoid the shark fin, the rear of the canoe doesn't rest directly on the rear KeelOvers. Instead, it rests on the ShowBoat and the rear KeelOvers stick up just enough to keep the canoe from sliding sideways. The ShowBoat roller has an angle to it and can be pointed either up or down when mounting it. The instructions say to point it up for kayaks and down for canoes. I chose down not because of the instructions, but because the rear of the canoe is resting on it. The roller bracket flexes a bit during loading, so I didn't want it to be flexed the entire time the canoe was strapped down. When the ShowBoat is extended, I have a stable loading platform above the rear spoiler. When it's retracted, I have 1-2 inches of clearance when the rear lift gate is fully opened.

The 66" bars on which the ShowBoat is attached stick out over the sunroof when fully retracted. I mounted the ShowBoat's bars centered with about 20" separation so they are positioned within the center of the canoe and don't interfere with the front KeelOvers when retracted.

Regarding noise, I've been very pleased with the Thule AeroBlades. They are extremely quiet with nothing mounted. Once I add the ShowBoat and its forward pointing bars, I get a lot more wind noise and a whistle.

Hope this info helps someone else who is also looking to carry a canoe or kayak.

-BK

 

[BlkKnight]

Additional pics.

-BK

 

[mrvandelay]

Thanks for the great pics. I've been eyeing the ShowBoat for my kayak!

 

[BlkKnight]

For a kayak carried upright, you may be able to mount the ShowBoat bars on top of your crossbars to the outside of your kayak mounts. Then you won't have any conflict between the ShowBoat's bars and the kayak mounts. The ShowBoat's maximum horizontal spread is somewhere around 32", which just isn't wide enough to mount outside my canoe mounts. If I'd had just 2-3" more horizontal spread capability, it would've worked cleanly. That's why I had to be a little creative with the ShowBoat bars top mounted within the canoe.

If only Toyota had done something different with that shark fin placement... Unfortunately, I can't just remove it because I actually enjoy the satellite radio every day.

-BK

 

[writchie]

Thanks for the great pics! So are you basically saying that even with the Showboat's rear load assist roller pointed upward for kayaks, you still didn't have enough clearance to get over top of the shark fin antenna without having to add the second set of crossbars for additional height?? Also, did you check out the Thule Slipstream as well as the Yakima Showboat? If so, why did you ultimately choose the Showboat.

Thanks so much! That shark fin antenna is now known to me as the damn shark fin antenna.

Wade

 

[BlkKnight]

Thanks for the great pics! So are you basically saying that even with the Showboat's rear load assist roller pointed upward for kayaks, you still didn't have enough clearance to get over top of the shark fin antenna without having to add the second set of crossbars for additional height?? Also, did you check out the Thule Slipstream as well as the Yakima Showboat? If so, why did you ultimately choose the Showboat.

Thanks so much! That shark fin antenna is now known to me as the damn shark fin antenna.

Wade

Glad the pics are proving useful to folks. I didn't try mounting the ShowBoat with the roller pointed up on the factory crossbars. I just inspected it visually and it looked like it would be a very tight fit. It might barely clear the shark fin, but it would be super close when pulling the roller bracket across the fin to extend it for loading. Since my canoe is resting on the ShowBoat when tightly tied down, I need it pointing down to avoid flexing the roller bracket too much for extended periods of time.

I did run across the Thule Slipstream in my research, and it looks pretty cool for carrying a kayak. I'm hauling a canoe inverted, though, so the Slipstream and other mounts that carry the boat upright aren't useful to me. The ShowBoat has a wide enough roller to support loading the inverted canoe.

-BK

 

[writchie]

Right ... I can definitely see where the Slipstream is better designed for a kayak. I don't have a kayak yet, but I'm planning on purchasing one soon. I think I'll try the Slipstream out with the factory cross bars first. If I don't get enough height to clear the shark fun, then I suppose I can just get an additional set of crossbars at that time. I'll keep the forum updated.

Thanks for all of your help!!

Wade

 

[BlkKnight]

This post says that the Thule Slipstream will work with factory crossbars. So going that route won't require extra crossbars. Take some good pics for us when you do your install!

-BK

 

[writchie]

The Indiana Hillbilly Breakaway Kayak Load-Assist Thing-A-Ma-Bob

I finally bought a kayak yesterday, but unfortunately it won't come in for a couple weeks. After studying all of the various load-assist racks, I decided to make one on my own. A short trip to Lowe's and about $50 later, this is the "work in progress" that I came up with. I still need to drill the hole for the hitch pin and still need to glue the joints together, but I'm planning on finishing it so that I can easily break it down into 2 pieces at the top rear 90 degree elbows and throw it in the back of the truck after I get the kayak on or off the rack.

Roller bar is 2" PVC overtop of 1 1/2" PVC crossbar, so it rolls easy. Rest of the outfit is made with 1 1/2" PVC and 90 degree elbows and tees. I'll be fitting my factory rack crossbars with Malone Saddle Up Pros. Most important in the design was keeping the kayak plenty high above the shark fin antennna and placing the roller bar plenty far behind the flimsy rear tailgate top ferring. Looks good so far, but I obviously cannot test it until the kayak comes in. I'll be sure to report back to let you all know how it works and to post more pictures once the kayak comes in.

 

[writchie]

A few more pictures ...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bhbfcj69gnkkdqr/Photo May 05, 11 08 26 PM.jpg


https://www.dropbox.com/s/00bblluahmddrmv/Photo May 05, 11 09 30 PM.jpg


https://www.dropbox.com/s/tr9haekxn9izw9n/Photo May 05, 11 09 49 PM.jpg

 

[povertyrunner]

Digging up a old post, but I wonder if this kayak rack would fit on a Sherpa Rack