Whilst the warmer weather is always welcome in Victoria, the family wants to get on the band wagon and come with me on my travels to the beach. I've been exploring ideas of how to move all my kit with the car loaded up with family.
Trailer: too expensive.
Roof box: can't find one that is big enough for my wave board (241cm) let alone my 130lt.
I'm now considering quiver bags. These are looking pretty good at the moment as they keep the sun off the sails and apparently, wont squash them as you can run roof rack straps under the bag. I'll probably also get some of those lockable tie downs and strap the boards beside the quiver bag.
Any experience or ideas?
i did exactly the same thing with quiver bags to get my gear on the roof and out of the car.
was the best thing i ever did. have driven hundreds of kilometers in rain and storms and hot sun and gear and bags are all good.
i have the gun sails mast/sail combo and a boom bag.
Full review of a all in one bag here:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=52739&SearchTerms=quiver,bags
Travel bags are odd items. I keep many and have been doing it for many decades. If you use them once for their intended use, travel, you are fortunate. My quiver bag has never been used for travel, but I didn't pay for it. In McMahon's case, I suspect his family will have mixed feelings about the beach trips after a few. Then the bag will go into the closet for a long rest.
If you use them for the intended use (travel), you are fortunate, says Rubbingoneout
But then he said he has many and have never used them for travel
and I'm the one on drugs?
I have a DaKine giver bag. http://www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/showProduct/Windsurfing/Bags+and+Covers/438772/Da+Kine+Duplex+Quiver+Bag+Wave
Fits +4 sails (my bigest is a NP hellcat 7.7) and 3 mast (6 halves). and strapable to the roof without crushing the sails.
Most of the time it just gets chucked in the back.
Pros:-
1.Quick packing of the car to get to the beach - no sails or mast get left behind (unless I for get the bag LOL).
2.Always have the option of putting it on the roof being whether I have extra passengers or have to pick the kids (or others) up, or drop of) on the way home or before I head out.
3. Generally I can leave it strapped to the roof when sailing in Sydney. You could remove it from the roof and put inside the car whilst sailing.
4. keeps the car(wagon) reasonably organised and catches the wet dribble from the sail bags at the end of the day.
Con's.
1. Its bloody heavy and awkward to lift onto the roof on your own.
2. You have to give the zippers a good rhinse or else they'll stuff up - eventually
3. threading the straps through the tunnel can be a pain
Overall - I'm glad I have and use one.
I bought one off eBay a couple of weeks ago...haven't used it yet, but looks pretty good! A mate has one and carts his gear in it, and reckons it's the go!
Up until recently I had an oversize board bag that fitted my board, 3 sails, mast & boom in it...prob was it was too heavy, and tieing it down was a bit of a nightmare.
Btw...Jason, make sure you bring everything when you come to visit us in Portland - in a day it can vary 10 knots! I'll load up the family & bbq.
Good review Davmen. My sentiments exactly. Had one for 4 years. Only time I would change is if I won tattslotto then I would get a van.
McMahon,
I got the family band wagon thing happening also. All gear "must" be on the roof. I have a Loft sail bag. Can fit 6 sails plus junk. Very basic, pretty good. Not so good for permanent attachment to the roof, just a basic functional bag. Pretty heavy when fully loaded.
If you want to lock your boards I have gone as far as threading a bicycle cable lock through the footstraps and locked to the roof racks.
Keeping everythings tucked away means I only need 4 straps to tie down 3 boards, sail bag, two masts, boom and 3 surfboards.
In winter I have also had 3 snowboards, 6 boots, and associated jackets, pants etc tucked inside the sail bag.
Thanks for the feedback guys, I'm going to buy one (probably one of the cheaper ones). I reckon they'll be just what I need. put the boom in my board bag and the rest of the big stuff in the quiver bag. Hey Scotty, I'll need to make sure the bag is big enough to pack a shark whacking stick for my visits to Portland!
The fishing here is starting to resemble NT! (minus the crocs)...you need to keep moving to get away from all the noahs!!!
I travelled with my kit on the roof of my Kluger right around OZ for 12months (45,000klms inclusive of a small detour into Alice Springs to have a look). 4 Ezzy Wave Sails and 3 EZZY RDM masts and 2 booms in my EZZY quiver bag. Masts go on the bottom so the bag (and sails) doesnt sag between the roof racks. Tied on with lockable tiedowns so thieves at least have a difficult time if they tried to knock off my stuff. Fitted on the roof with a 116L allrounder, and my 85L wave board. Oh, and on top of the quiver bag I tied my surfboard.
They bag was a life saver in being able to carry heaps of stuff for our trip, because we couldnt spare any space internally in the car. It was a heavy sucker though fully loaded. You will need to eat your wheetbix so you can lift it on and off. Would be a pain in the butt doing O/S travel....can only imagine the costs the pros endure travelling around with a full kit.
when buying I chose the Ezzy as it was super heavy duty, which paid off. 12 months of constant weather - mostly baking sun, but also rain. Even in the heaviest of rain the inside of the bag stayed pretty dry. I wasnt too worried about this as EZZY sails apparently dont need to be dry when rolled up.
Hope this helps
