How Will You Store Your Kayak On Your Small RV

Smaller RVs are becoming more popular all the time. This is great because it means more new ideas for getting the most out of them will coming to the surface. This Roadtrek conversion RV sports a rear Kayak carrier. The carrier fits into an extra receiver hitch on the driver side. The rack securely holds the kayak at the bottom in the upright position. Pull the pin and the rack pivots down for easy loading and unloading. The upper portion of the kayak is held in place by a single cargo strap. Since the kayak covers the brake and signal light on the vehicle, an additional signal light is part of the rack on the driver’s side. RVers are out to have fun and new innovations are making it possible. Out paddling with the current - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVs And Boats Go Hand In Hand

From fishing boats to rapids riding kayaks RVers enjoy water craft. The problem is how to take these large items along. For fishing boats many folks install an easy-lift boat lift over the front of their truck. Others take along a Porta-Bote which is a boat that folds for convenient storage. Others use inflatables which can be stored practically anywhere there is space. Motorhome operators have the option of towing a trailer with more toys. For the white water crowd there are many combinations for carrying your kayaks. Motorhomes towing a car can tie them on the roof of the towed vehicle. Class C's without a tow can strap them on top of the rig. RVers with 5th wheels often store them on top of the RV. You can use a commercial rack or make your own out of wood and some tie-down straps. If you decide to carry your water craft on top of your RV, please be very careful when you are hoisting them onto the roof. Even if you've done it a hundred times without incident it only takes one slip to turn a great day into a bad day. And please remember to wear a life jacket while out on the water. Running port and starboard - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing.

RV and Boat Enthusiasts, Meet the Newest RV Compatible Water Toy

Many RVers enjoy boating and some go to great lengths to bring their watercraft along. The most popular are the inflatables and the fold-up porta-bote. You see a few kayaks strapped on top of a towed vehicle but you have to paddle those. Now you can enjoy the power of a jet boat as the Mokai moves you at a top speed of 15 miles per hour. Below is the jet nozzle and the intake. This propulsion configuration allows you to move through very shallow water, shoot rapids and do a host of things that conventional propuslion will not accomplish. I encourage you boat lovers to check out the video on this web site.
MOKAI This little jewel only weighs 100 pounds and can be easily stowed on top of a car or truck rack. Once you are at the river or lake you put the boat on shore, ad the Honda 6 horse power motor, get in and away you go. The gas tank holds three gallons and is advertised to last up to 8 hours. Steering is accomplished with a motorcycle type throttle which also serves as the left and right control by moving it forward or backward. The Mokai fits neatly in the RV lifestyle because of its portability and low profile, storable motor. You don’t need to figure out where to store that awkward outboard motor, because this motor is the size of a lawnmower engine and easily fits in RV storage compartments. Jim Twamley

Go RVing And Boating Too!

This time of year there are many opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors including water-sports. We are staying at an RV resort that is on a lake and you can walk from the comfort of your RV and hop in a boat and go fishing or skiing. Or you could rent a jet ski and disturb the fishermen or just launch into the deep with an inner tube or whatever kind of water toy you like. So how do RVers get their watercraft to go with their RV? Well, there is the piggyback method (the port-a-bote (not a misspelling) is a popular RV watercraft because if folds for easier transport). Another alternative is an inflated dingy type boat which can be stored in your cargo compartment. Another alternative is to trailer your boat behind your RV. You can also have someone pull your boat separately and meet you at camp. And finally, (and one of my favorite choices) is you can bum a ride from one of your RV friends who is always looking for someone to go fishing with. Oh, and don’t forget the sunscreen and the lifejackets. Be safe out there this weekend. Jim

PortaBoat Stowing Idea

I have a 12 foot PortaBote TM which is a foldable boat convinient for travel. The problem is where do you stow it. I thought about it and decided to stow it under my 5th wheel in the front. I made metal braces and mounted PVC pipe with wooden dowels glued inside them as the guides. These do not hold the weight, but just act to hold the boat up while I attach the the boat to the frame with cargo wratchet straps. Here are the pictures: