Handling heavy boards

[dllee]

If it's a really windy day, chances of a million cars parked within inches of yours is a distinct impossibility.
And if a million car's are parked with hair's width of yours, those cars are great windbreaks that slow down and disturb the wind.

[wernerhickey]

[isobars]

In the states, if someone parks you in and you need to leave, you go through the numbers in escalating order:
1. Find him and he'll let you out.
2. Look for his keys hidden in the usual spots, and let yourself out.
3. Try his doors and if successful, find his keys and let yourself out and put his car in your spot.
4. Read the note on your windshield. It may say 'My keys are on my left rear tire. Please let yourself out."
5. Get some friends and move his car by hand.
6. Have him towed if you really need to leave.

I've done the first five -- didn't need help with #5 because his car was an original VW Beetle parked on gravel -- but haven't had to do #6 yet.

[wernerhickey]

This made my day - same in Australia. First time it happened to me here (Singapore) expected to do 1-4 - no joy. I was shocked this is tolerated but it is with most willing to just wait it out. Many of the local guys are very tight and a great bunch together - the assumption is you are one of them and you won't mind. Its hard to get annoyed and easier to go easier to go with the flow.

Here are some ideas working on for "hacking" the racks. Interested in any other ideas - as I said I will adapt them most of the ideas are some simple cuts and pop rivets.

[wernerhickey]

to gregnw44

Mine is the older version - I was so surprised to find one here and the agent was also surprised to find someone that wanted it - so despite it not being the latest we did the deal. I think the newer one is better - there are improvements in the mechanical movements I think I read somewhere - although I have had no problems - I think this model also went through and upgrade at some stage. you can buy them used and this model is cheaper at the moment if you can find them.

It is a good thing - when I drop it down I put the fin in and mast base at a comfortable waist high (though with the gap hight to the roof now I often leave the mast base in). Another advantage is that I have repaired small chips while it is situ vertically beside the car - flip it over for the other side of the board. I put a bungie cord over it now in the vertical position to hold it while i fiddle around before lifting it. It sits there nicely anyway though. It does not rest on the car in any way - I do not need to push the side mirrors in.

As I said not for everyone - but as I get older I find eliminating inconveniences and thereby pathetic excuses for not getting of the couch is paying dividends with more time on the water .

[swchandler]

Having a van avoids many problems, and it's much simpler in the long run. It's hard to understand why many windsurfers don't see the picture.

[wernerhickey]

Agree - I had a van, also an ambulance built on a F100 chassis but the best was a ford transit British designed postal van - 6'2" head clearance and made mostly of fibreglass. Again here though my current car will cost $100,000 to replace in a few years - it must be scrapped at 10 years of age- commercial vehicles are not allowed to cross the Malaysian border freely (cutting off some fertile sailing).

[cgoudie1]

Amen to that brother! That is a cool rack, but I'll take my van any day.

-Craig

[Arrgh]

Thanks for a very interesting thread, from both equipment and geopolitical perspectives. I find it somewhat surprising - what with all the SUPpers out there- that Thule hasn't come out with an SUP version, or at least a modification kit. BTW, count me as one who used to have a van, and maybe I will again some day. Life and circumstances change.

[boardsurfr]