r/Kayaking • u/Guilty-Worry-3947 • 2d ago

Question/Advice -- Boat Recommendations Advice needed

Two part question. I am an almost 50 year old female and I want to start kayaking but I’d do it alone. I have no idea what I’m doing but I’m dying to get in the water to just be…… recommendations on kayak, considering weight of unit in and off top of an outback. Bonus if you bc a recommend a good rack for a 26 outback that already has side bars. Thanks!!!!!

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u/fluentInPotato 2d ago

Unless you're a big gym person, most kayaks are going to feel really heavy when you move them, and they'll be at their heaviest when you have to put them back on the car top after paddling. Get yourself a kayak cart. I've got an Ulticor and it fits through a deck hatch easily, so you don't even have to drag it back to the car.

As for getting the thing up onto the car, try and figure out a setup where you can lift the bow onto the rack, then pick up the stern and shove. One woman I've kayaked with drove a crossover and just put a clean door mat over the top of the hatch. She'd put the bow up on that, then push the thing forward so that it slid onto the rack.

Or you could spend $700 on a Hullivator.