There is an inflatable roof carrier called HandiRack. I would like to carry, for short distances, a one man kayak. The HandiRack system appears to be up for the job. I would like some reassurance though, on whether the XK’s roof is ‘up to the job’. Does anybody have any experience in this?

 

I'm sure the roof can handle it. It's rated for rollover protection, etc. But your roof better be spotless before you put that thing on it or you're going to end up with scratches. If anything gets under it you're going to scratch your roof.

 

Nope... Bad idea all around. Roof isn't designed to have anything on it (it's actually pretty flexible). Add that the straps are going to keep the door window from being closed and run about eyeball height across the inside and with a coupe you don't have much span (front to rear) to balance the load which will strain the roof more as it oscillates.

Honestly I'd shove it in the hatch and over the back seat before trying the roof.

 

Interesting concept but I would think as you tighten the strap it will cause the roof to "oil can" and may damage it. I recall during the days I owned my XKE coupe I had a ski rack that attached to the rear hatch. It had metal clips that attached to the hatch and rubber suction cups that went on the window and metal on the door. Never had any damage but then again ski's are a lot smaller than a kayak .

 

+1

I had the same OE carrier which I used on both my 2001 and 2005 XK8's.



Jaguar NEVER offered a roof rack or an equivalent carrier for the aluminium bodied XK because it isn't up to the load bearing of the earlier steel bodied model. Any aftermarket solution is likely to cause damage.

Graham

 

The better idea would be an inflatable kayak.

 

Thanks everyone for your input. No real surprises really. I was hoping somebody would tell me what a success they’d had with one, or similar. I know all about the dirt problem but that should be surmountable. It’s the reshap8g of the roof that really worries me. I have found an alternative albeit an expensive one. (See picture attached). If I tie the front and back of the boat somehow to the towing eyes or similar, I think this may do the job. Again, your views, opinions and experience would be gratefully accepted.

 

On the back glass of the hatch maybe but definitely not on the roof. Even the glass, one wrong stress and it's gone. Maybe pick up a cheap Wrangler for these excursions.

 

I should have mentioned, there’s a video on YouTube of a Lamborghini doing 165mph with a surf board mounted on one of these Sea Sucker systems! No damage whatsoever and the suckers stayed firmly fixed to the roof.

 

Gee, wish I had a Lambo to carry my surfboard. Actually, since I don't have a surfboard, maybe my shooting bench?

 

There’s a thread in this forum where a fellow (in Hawaii, IIRC) built a custom rack to carry either a kayak or surf board, I don’t remember which.
Nothing touched the roof, it was supported by the front and rear tow hook locations.
Do a search, you can probably find it.

 

Did you catch the trick?

They used a surfboard, which is so aerodynamically perfect that it applies tons of downforce like a spoiler. They could have held that it place with thumbtack.

Challenge them to try that with a kayak. It would be fun to see what if anything happens.