Thule 887 SlipStream Kayak Roof Rack Mount Carrier

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Kayak Carrier Accessory with adjustable slide saddles - Slide your boat onto roofrack with no roof contact
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Technical Details

- Kayak to vehicle contact eliminated with adjustable roller position
- Ideal kayak transport location on any vehicle with easy to adjust sliding base system
- Complete package includes saddles, roller, base tubes, and all necesayr straps and tie downs for one kayak
- Fits Thule square, Aero, Yakima round bars and most factory installed cross bars
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 "car topping made easy." 2008-07-09
By Timothy J. Kent (san antonio)
The Slipstream is probably the best way for small car owners to safely transport their kayaks. The roof rack mounts on my car (and many other small sedans) are only about 2 feet apart. That makes properly supporting an 18 foot fiberglass sea kayak like the Valley Q-boat a tricky affair.



With the Slipstream I'm able to increase the distance between the supports to about 5 feet. This means the Kayak is being held closer to its bulkheads (the strongest points on the hull). It also dramatically reduces the side to side wobble that can occur in crosswinds.



I couldn't get the front pads flat enough to properly support my extremely hard-chined Q-boat so I set the outer portion of the pads to their most upright position and moved them out so the chine is touching the pad right above the hinge and the flat section of the hull rests on the flat section of the pad. This has the added benefit of preventing the kayak from sliding side to side on the pads. Those who's boats have more rounded chines will have no problem getting the fit right.



Another nice touch is being able to slide the whole "rack" forward and back to center the load on the car. It also makes loading the kayak very easy... no heavy lifting required. I like to back down the boat ramp to the water's edge, slide the rack all the back and then just roll the boat off the rack into the water. Loading up works the same way - and this can be done fast enough the boaters in my area don't mind.



In summary the slipstream is a well thought out product that works very well. I was gonna build something myself but this meets all my needs.

 "Works for me, could use locking system" 2007-10-17
By Robert Borzelleri
I looked for a carrier for a rowing shell that would fit my SUV (a bit tall) and would allow me to load the shell singlehanded. Most of the conventional rack systems for rowing shells hold the hull well above the rack crossbars and that makes for difficult single handed loading.



The Slipstream allows for a lower loading height and the combination of the sliding (to the rear) frame and the rear roller make it easy to get the boat started with little chance of hitting the roof with the hull.



My only complaint is that there is no simple locking mechanism for the rack system. Thule suggests using a cable and lock, but I would much prefer locking fasteners such as are available with Yakima and other Thule racks.


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Thule 897XT Hullavator Kayak Roof Rack Mount Carrier

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Kayak Carrier Accessory with lift assist - reduces lift height by up to 40" for carrying kayaks on roofracks
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Technical Details

- Reduces effort to lift boat with gas assist shockt that help raise boat onto vehicle roof
- includes lift system, integrated padded support, mounting hardware, and all straps to carry one kayak
- Mounts to Thule standard, Rapid Aero, Xsporter, and Yakima load bars
- Superior boat protection with integrated paddes support
- Accomodates kayaks up to 36" wide and 100lbs
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 "Great idea needs better execution" 2008-08-03
By C. Chang (DFW)
I've seen many video clips on the net introducing this product (search youTube) so I will skip the functions of it. Lifting my 17' kayak onto my CR-V roof is not something enjoyable, so I bite the bullet. I had to abandoned my factory cross bar and installed the Thule Aero Rapid bars (Thule square and Yakima round will also work but the Aero bar looks much nicer) to accommodate that. This is needed for the load bar to extend 4 to 8 inch beyond the foot, my factory bar will not do that. So after sinking in about $700 I got this going. The installation was not difficult; they even included a DVD with installation instructions. It seems the Hullavator is designed with the square bar in mind. The adaptation to the Aero bars looks like an afterthought. They gave you 4 thin plastic clear films per arm to protect the contact points. A square bar would fit nicely under the mounting bar. But for the Aero bar there were just 4 contact points; I don't even want to tighten the screws too much because of that.



I know before hands that the added height to my CR-V will not clear my garage door; so keep that in mind. The shorter cradle can barely makes it; the bottom taller cradle just simply won't. Now Thule has the Hull-a-port PRO which has a cradle/carrier that will fold, you would think they could have that feature on this $440 product, right? That will sure let me drive my CR-V into my garage without taking it off. The DVD suggest that you take the whole arm assembly off when entering a low clearance garage and states that it is easy.. Ah, it was not that easy, the arms are heavy and putting and removing the pivot pins through the holes can be tricky. I think I will just take the cradles off for now.



Another thing is the Aero bars are nice looking but this Hullavator is not; two big gray boxes without much aero dynamics are sitting on my car roof.. They did pack a lot of mechanisms in there so I guess there is not much room for improvements in that regard. Oh, also be careful not to hit your head, it sticks out just enough to get you. on the other hand it was a good thing that it leave more space on the rack for other things. I moved the front cross bar to in between the front and back doors to avoid it. I can see some other car may not have that choice.



Enough whining I guess the benefits are exceeding the shortcommings so it is a keeper for now.




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Thule 877XT Roller Coaster Kayak Roof Rack Mount Carrier

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Roller Coaster Kayak Accessory
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Technical Details

- Easy loading with optimally posistioned roller
- For use with 878xt Set - To - Go saddle
- Roller eliminates boat to load bar contact when loading boat
- Fits Thule square bars only
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Thule 835XT Hull-A-Port Rooftop Kayak Carrier

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The most popular carrier for transporting a kayak
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Technical Details

- Proven J style kayak carrier creates more room on load bar to transport other toys
- Quick on/off hardware ensure rapid installation and removal
- No adjustments needed
- Includes one pair ratcheting tie downs, two straps and buckle protectors
- Fits Thule standard, Rapid Aero, Xsporter bars, Yakima and most factory installed racks
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 "Great product" 2009-04-22
By J. Dibble (CT, USA)
I recently purchased the Thule Hull a port pro. I've transported our kayaks 3 times with it so far. It was relatively easy to learn how the whole thing functions. The feature I like the best about it is the fact that it folds down while not in use. I felt like the kayaks were secured well between the J hook itself, and the support straps. I recommend this product.

 "OK in a pinch but there has to be better" 2009-03-05
By D. Miller
Purchased this product in 2005. It was my first experience both with kayaks and kayak carriers. At first was pretty pleased. With time I found this product less than satisfactory. The tightening mechanism on these is pretty hokey. In today's manufacturing environment I expect good design especially on a fairly expensive product. The tighteners feel like off the shelf equipment. They take a fair amount of time to put on and off. As there is no locking mechanism this happens twice on every outing. Second, over time they these racks are feeling pretty wobbly. Third, the tightening mechanism destroyed the factory racks on my Forester. I also own a Thule hitch bike rack. I am disappointed there as well. Thule uses lots of metal and heavy parts but truly seems to be lacking in design.

 "great rack" 2008-07-05
By Marta Thorne
The rack works great. I can load and secure two kayaks in under 10 min. I used to take 40 min. I would recommend them.



The only issue was with installation. At one point I hit a problem and had to search the web for an answer. I found it in a forum on the Thule web site. That issue doubled the installation time. A troubleshooting section in the installation guide would have been nice.

 "easiest and most secure kayak carrier ever." 2008-07-04
By Roger L. Hicks (houston texas)
the kayak carriers were so easy to install on top of my car and place the kayaks in it was wonderful. with the tie straps they tied off well and rode great . it made the unloading of the kayaks so easy once we arrived at the lake.



I would highly recomend them for anyone contemplating moving kayaks from one place to another. they rode very secure and placement and removal was a breeze.

 "great product" 2007-09-26
By Steven T. Blades (pittsburgh, pa)
these things work great. i had the foam block and strap kit before this and that was an increadible pain and it also didn't keep the kayak up off of my roof and scratched it all up. it only takes a few minutes to put these on and load my kayak. my only complaint, and it is a small one, is that the thumb screws are a little on the small side. i have to agree with the reviewer that said about the clamp attachment or at least a bigger thumb screw. other than that this is a great product. it also fit onto my yakima roof rack with no problem.


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Thule 847 Outrigger Kayak Load Assist for Roof Rack Mount Carrier

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Retractable Bar extends from side of vehicle and provides pivot point for load boats on tall vehicles
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Technical Details

- Prevents unwanted boat to vehicle contact
- Integrated load stop prevents boat from sliding off bar when loading and unloading
- Mounts to Thule Square bars only
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 "End of the Outrigger Needs to Be Taller" 2009-10-07
By EE4Hire (Torrington, CT)
The product certainly does what it claims--making it easier to load a heavy kayak. However the stop which keeps the kayak from sliding sidewards off of the bar is not really that good. It should be taller. My boat slipped off the bar, jumped over the end, and fell, taking the passenger side exterior mirror out. Since then I have to use extra caution such as ensuring the car is parked on really level ground, finding ground with good traction, and lifting with extra control.

 "Thule Outrigger" 2009-07-01
By Robert P. Labrie (St. Petersburg, FL USA)
My wife belongs to a ladies group called the Adventurous Woman, so she'll need to be able to load the kayak without my help. She has practiced with the Outrigger a couple of times and is able to load and unload her kayak all by herself (she's 5'4" and she loads it on an SUV). The only reason I did not give this a 5-star rating is because I feel the end could be a little more substantial to give more confidence in keeping the kayak from falling, but it works.

 "Awesome!" 2008-09-06
By C. Cogar (FL United States)
The Outrigger is great! It makes loading your boat possible when you are on your own. I used to struggle with my 15 ft boat while strangers would walk by and giggle (some would eventually offer to help). Now I just put one end of my boat on the outstretched Outrigger, lift the other side and roll it up into the rack! Huzzah!

 "Good Addition for Kayak Haulers" 2008-07-25
By James R. Holtan (Oakland, CA USA)
It was my hope that these extensions would allow my wife to load her Perception Swifty kayaks by herself. We have a Ford Escape (yes, for those of you who are wondering - it is a hybrid), so the rack is fairly high, and my wife's not overly strong.



While I find these VERY helpful for loading the kayaks, they're not a miraculous assist, and my wife is still not confident in doing it herself. It does take a good amount of caution in lifting the kayak up; you always have the feeling it could easily tip and fall off the extension.



If you're not quite certain you could get the kayak up, even with this assistance, you're probably better off paying for one of Thule's more expensive 'lift assist' models.



If you just need that 'little extra assistance' to load the kayak, these are great.


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Yakima HullRaiser Aero Rooftop Kayak Carrier with Straps

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The Yakima® HullRaiser Aero kayak carrier is designed to bring you boat security, ease of loading, and compatibility with aerodynamic factory crossbars. It keeps touring, whitewater, and recreational kayaks safe and sound and utilizes a J-cradle design that uses less crossbar space than saddle set-ups.
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Technical Details

- Rooftop kayak carrier with J-cradle design that holds boat on its side
- Takes up a minimum of roof space and supports quick and easy loading
- Fits round, square, and most factory crossbars without requiring adapters
- Premium padding protects kayak finish; includes tie-down straps with buckles
- Compatible with touring, whitewater, and recreational kayaks; 1-year warranty
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 "pleased but still uncertain" 2008-03-24
By ChemSciGuy (Midland, MI USA)
I have used these successfully for transport of my kayak. The boat loads easily and the rack cradles it well. The racks seem stable on the road. It has taken a bit for me to figure out how best to strap the boat. I've moved away from lines to the bumper and have gone to more robust side to side strapping. Early transport had the kayak moving considerably on the racks. The mounting clamps are not secure enough - nor can they be - to keep the boat from moving on the car's cross braces. Overall, these are still the best I've seen.


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Yakima Kayak Stacker Rooftop Kayak Carrier with Tie-Downs

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This fishhook-mount system holds up to 4 kayaks, giving you more flexibility than the average contortionist.
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Technical Details

- Fishhook-mount kayak system for carrying up to 4 kayaks at once
- Pair of vertical non-scratch supports for standing kayaks on sides
- Versatile "arrow" top hooks make it easy to tie off whitewater boats
- Heavy-duty straps with padded buckles and bow/stern tie-down straps
- Saves enough space to store other gear on your roof; 1-year warranty
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 "Flimsy, doesn't install well" 2009-07-12
By S
I can't get this to install well on my rectangular Subaru roof rack. It rocks back and forth when it is installed. Then I can't un-install it. I have had a frustrating day dealing with this stupid thing, and NOT going kayaking. I am going to look into J-racks and probably end up spending another $300 on top of the $100 I wasted on this piece of junk.

 "Work exactly as advertised!" 2007-07-13
By Mark S. Ramsden
It's always a score when a product works as advertised. Buyers should be aware that putting kayaks on top of an SUV is a two person job with this style rack. The nylon ties are solid. Excellent product.


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Yakima HullyRoller Rooftop Kayak Carrier with Straps with Strap

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The Yakima® HullyRoller has rollers that make it easy to slide your boat onto your vehicle's roof. Combine them with a set of Mako or Mako Aero saddles (not included), and securing your boat in place is a piece of cake.
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Technical Details

- Rooftop kayak carrier with U-shaped rollers for easy loading and unloading
- Dynaflex rollers pivot to the side to provide convenient loading angles
- Includes heavy-duty strap with padded buckles and pair of bow/stern straps
- Employs Yakima mako saddles (sold separately) to ensure safety and security
- Also compatible with most factory crossbars (requires mighty mounts)
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 "we're all happy" 2009-06-09
By Maryann May
i LOVE this company.

my truck's happy, my kayak's are happy and i'm happy!

 "Hully Rollers" 2008-10-18
By William R. Heuser (Cleveland, Ohio)
I purchased the Hully Rollers to take the place of a rear kayak saddle. I was having difficulty putting my wooden kayak on to my van. I thought that the Hully Rollers would make it easier to load. I didn't find that the effort was that much less using the Hully Rollers. The saddles worked as well as the rollers if I put a carpet over the back of the van and on to the saddles. I have to be more careful with the Hully Rollers so I don't run off them and drop the boat. I didn't have that problem with the saddles. if I had to do it over again, I'd just be happy with the saddles.

Bill


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Yakima Mako Saddles Rooftop Kayak Carrier with Straps with Tie-Downs

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Mako saddles are designed for stability and protection of sea kayaks, recreational and whitewater boats. (Sorry to disappoint those of you who saw the name and figured they were for riding sharks.)
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Technical Details

- Rooftop kayak carrier with scoop-shaped cradle for easy loading
- Set of Dynaflex pads securely grip virtually any hull shape
- Padded buckle protects both boat and vehicle from scratches
- Bow/stern tie-down straps keep kayak incredibly stable
- Works with round, square, and most factory crossbars; 1-year warranty
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 "a perfect fit" 2009-06-09
By Maryann May
they hold the boat with a perfect fit, plus they look cool on my truck...

 "Description is deceptive" 2008-12-07
By B. Allsop (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Advertised to be able to fit all luggage racks, including FACTORY racks. What the description does NOT tell you however is that you need to purchase almost another $60 worth of hardware or spend $400 on one of their racks for these saddles to work. I am sure they would work fine, but I had to return the items immediately. Amazon handled the return promptly and properly.

 "Best kayak rack invented" 2008-08-15
By S. Johnson (Bellingham, WA)
Yakima Mako saddles rule!



I can understand the impulse to save a few bucks by purchasing the landsharks or another brands saddles but don't do it. Why pay $3,000.00 for a fiberglass kayak and then beat the hull to death on your roof or worse yet lose the boat on the highway.



Yakima mako saddles adjust to many different hull shapes, hold the boat very securely and provide a bit of cushion for the boat over bumps. I have used these saddles on several different fiberglass and poly boats and have been extremely pleased with the hull contact. I have not seen hull abrasions and roughening at the site of contact that occurs with other saddles. While the slight movement of the boat while traveling takes some getting used too - this is the saddle flexing, not the boat moving in the saddles - this action gives the boat a bit of cushion on 4x4 or rough roads. Very secure at highway speeds.



Great product that should last you years and years.

 "Secure but cumbersome." 2008-07-04
By Tzar Igor (Weed, CA USA)
Purchased two sets of Yakima Mako Saddles to hold our two touring kayaks on top of our Yakima round bars. After several trips with our kayaks in the saddle we find that they hold the kayaks securely even at 70 mph.



I would give these saddles five stars if they were simpler to mount and dismount from the bars. Each saddle is secured by FOUR wing nut bolts. Before each trip I must position all four saddles (two per kayak) and secure SIXTEEN wing nuts. Then I must thread the straps through the saddles and around the kayaks. Let this be a challenge to Yakima engineers, design a secure kayak mounting system with a simpler (one step?) fastner.



Otherwise, Yakima products rule!


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SportRack - Abr511 - J-style kayak carrier

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Proven J style kayak carrier creates more room on load bar to trasport other accessories
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Technical Details

- Easy to use with no adjustments needed; lift boat on roof and tie down
- Quick on/off hardware ensure rapid installation and removal on most OE and aftermarket crossbars
- Heavy duty tie-down straps with cam buckle and galvanized steel bumper hooks included
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 "Just about the same as excellent for less" 2009-04-18
By T. Dempsey (Pittsburgh, PA USA)
This rack, obviously made by Thule or its manufacturer, is identical in all visible respects to Thule's Model 815 Rack with the exception of the boat straps and the padding on the bars. The mounting system (which is perfect for Thule's rectangular cross-bars and great for round cross-bars) is the same top-notch construction. The bow and stern guy lines are more than adequate if you've perfected your Trucker's Hitch and the padding on the rack is just fine. The only downside is that the buckles on the boat straps are not padded as the Thule straps are. A few bucks to upgrade those and you have a Thule rack set for about 2/3rds the Thule price. Quite a deal in my book and on my boat.

 "No instructions = Damaged car" 2008-09-30
By M. Board (Ohio)
Difficult to get kayak tied to it. Kayak almost fell off car. Damaged car because no instructions given on how to strap. Had to replace windshield because of strap falling and hitting glass. Damage to body of car also. Unfortunate that no instructions given on how to strap down kayak.

 "SportRack Abr511 - J-style kayak carrier" 2008-09-20
By Semore Blues (Minnesota)
I just bought two pair of these. In my opinion, J style carriers are the only way to load more than one kayak on a car roof. I bought these because they fit on the factory rack of my Toyota Sienna minivan and because they were cheap, at least compared to Yakima. I paid $80 a pair for them. They appear well made and are relatively easy to install on the factory rack after you've done it once. Once strapped up, my kayaks felt very secure. I have only two complaints about them. The ropes provided to secure the front and back of the kayak are not adjustable. Adjustable straps, like those provided to secure the midsection of the kayak, would be much better. Also, the racks have to be removed in order to enter a typical garage. Overall, I am happy with these. If you can afford it however, buy the Yakima bowdown, which can fold down so you can get in the garage. I will probably keep these for use on my Corolla which is small enough that I can get in the garage with them on. I will get the bowdown for my van.

 "Reasonable lower-cost alternative to the more popular J-Racks " 2008-07-24
By SevenFortyOne (Stafford, CT)
These J-Racks seem to work well. After 1,000 miles of banging around throughout New England these J-Racks have done what they are inteded to do. Why pay more for Thule racks when these are just as good? And since Thule owns SportRack, you really are getting a Thule product without paying extra for the name.



My only complaint lies with the length of the supplied straps - they were about 6 inches too short for my 28" wide kayaks. The straps are equivalent quality to any you'd purchse in the store, they are just too short for wider kayaks.




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