Product Details
 | Thule 854 Water Slide Kayak Carrier Accessory Mat |
| List Price: | $34.95 |
| Price: | $30.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details |
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com
7 new or used available from $30.95
Average customer review:
Product Description
Technical mat protects vehicle while loading kayak. Slippery top allows bow to move onto rear saddles while tacky bottom clings to vehicle. Quick-drying and easy to stow, the Water Slide is the perfect complement to your Thule boat carrier.Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #12221 in Sports & Outdoors
- Brand: Thule
- Model: 854
- Released on: 2009-03-01
Features
- Protects vehicle finish and boat keel while loading.
- Top ?glide? layer is durable, non-fading and sun-resistant. Bottom ?set? layer stays put without sticking to paint.
- Won?t soak through or allow sand or dirt to penetrate through to paint.
- Pad dries quickly and sheds debris with a shake.
- Integrated, non-scratching straps anchor pad to load bar and secure rolled pad for storage when not in use.
Customer Reviews
Loading my 12 foot Kayak became easy
I have a Toyota Sienna Minivan with a Factory roof rack. The roof rack far enough away from the rear of the van that when I stand up the kayak on the back of the van and lean it at a 45 degree angle, the Kayak is a good 3 feet away from the rack. The only way to load my Kayak on to the roof rack is if I were to slide the kayak on the rear roof edge of the car and use that as a fulcrum.
The problem with sliding a 50 pound 12 foot long Kayak on the edge of the roof is that it will destroy the paint. So you will need to cover the paint with something so that there is not contact with the Car roof and the Kayak. It has to have a low coefficient of friction so that it will not scratch the underside of the kayak. It also must be able to stay in place as you slide the kayak. So the top part must be super smooth for the bottom of the kayak, and the underside must be extremely grippy that it will not slide off the roof, with the kayak. I tried the following:
1. Small Rug - I was going to use it, but I could see how, although it may help slide the Kayak, it will scratch the paint of my car.
2. Towel - A kayakers best friend. Towels have so many uses in roof loading kayaks. It will protect your paint, if it doesnt slide off. I have had an experience when it did slide off and my kayak came craching to the ground. It was a good thing I had rubber mats all over the ground in case it happened. That was when I decided to buy this Thule Water Slide.
This is all you need to do to use the Water Slide.
1. Attach or place the Water Slide on the back of your car as seen in the picture of the product.
2. Put a carpet or rubber mat on the ground behind your car.
3. Put your Kayak on the carpet or mat on the ground behind you car so that it is parallel to your car.
4. Lift up the nose of your kayak and lean it against the back of your car, reating on the Thule Water slide.
5. Go to the rear of your Kayak and just slide it onto your roof rack.
That is it. Very easy. I used to have my family help load my kayak, but now, I can do it myself. Another excellent product from the best Kayak racking system, Thule. Enjoy your life, GO KAYAKING! See you on the water.
So much help for so little money...
As the other reviewers say, the Thule Waterslide really does work much better than a towel or rug, and it costs no more. It's a good size and well made with cushioning to protect your car. Your kayak easily slides on it and the velcro straps make it quick to attach with a sure grip. Unlike other Thule and Yakima rack products, the Waterslide is also fairly priced for what it is. It's an essential part of my system to raise and gently lower my Delta 12-10 kayak onto my Volvo XC70 roof using the Thule Roll Model roller with the glide and set saddles.
Because the Waterslide is so slippery, your boat can unexpectedly slide off the back of your car at the wrong time in the wrong direction when you can't catch it. One drop of my boat on the ramp tarmac taught me that lesson. So I now use my bow line rolled over the front roof rack as a guide and a brace to hold my kayak in place while raising and lowering it. I hold the line in my right hand to steady the bow, and then gently pull or slowly release the line to prevent the boat from sliding too quickly off the car. I keep my left hand on the boat hull to guide and support its weight. From my experience, I also highly recommend the Stowaway Kayak Cart for $59 at LLBean to complete a sensible loading system that can be used by one person. This well-built cart easily attaches to the stern of my kayak to support much of its weight during loading, unloading, and rolling my boat to the ramp. I'm a guy aged 62 with tendonitis who isn't planning to get any stronger at lifting boats, but I have used some extra thought to devise an affordable and portable loading/moving system that works for me...
Really Works
Does not slide off much as the towel I used to use, don't know how it will perform long term, but right now it seems like the perfect answer.
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