journal k ayaker’s
READY TO ROLL. PHOTO: VIRGINIA MARSHALL
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IN THE HATCH BY VIRGINIA MARSHALL LAUNCH AND LOAD WIKE
KAYAK KART BIKE TRAILER [1]
www.wicycle.com • $180
A compact hitch assembly and lightweight, folding frame make Wike’s double- duty Kayak Kart Bike Trailer a portable option for pedal portages. Use the center-style cart independently, or clip your boat’s bow toggle into the Smart Stick hitch mounted on your bicycle’s seat post for instant trailering. The Kart’s 16-inch wheels roll smoothly over rugged terrain and quick release for easy storage. Wike’s bike hitches can also be purchased separately if you already have a favorite cart.
VERSATILITY: ★★★★★ PORTABILITY: ★★★★ STABILITY: ★★★★
32 ADVENTURE KAYAK | SUMMER/FALL 2013
SEATTLE SPOR TS GO! CART [2]
www.seattlesportsco.com • $230
Combining Seattle Sports’ super heavy-duty All-Terrain Center Cart (ATC) with a tow bar for trailering behind a bicycle, the Go! Cart is ideal for long rides with heavy loads. The rear hub-mounted tow bar adjusts to support kayaks up to 15 feet long, or strap a tote on the cart’s wide, flat frame and use it as an all-purpose trailer for gear hauling and even grocery getting. A spring-loaded kickstand makes loading and unloading a breeze. While the Go! Cart does dismantle for storage, the mile-chewing, 16-inch wheels and 20-pound steel frame mean it’s better left locked up with your bike.
VERSATILITY: ★★★★★ PORTABILITY: ★★★ STABILITY: ★★★★★
MALONE CLIPPER [3]
www.maloneautoracks.com $100/$160 (standard/Rover wheels)
Our demo Clipper came equipped with Malone’s radical new Rover wheels, which company founder Larry Malone described as “phenomenally different” and “not small.” He wasn’t kidding. At 10 inches in diameter with Martian-ready, eight-inch-wide, airless treads, the Rovers float over soft sand, mud, rocks and roots. We love the Rover’s go-anywhere feel, but the Clipper is also available with standard 10-inch, airless wheels for greater portability. A simple, folding frame makes the Clipper the most compact of the center carts we tested, easily stowing in larger hatches.
VERSATILITY: ★★★★ PORTABILITY: ★★★★ STABILITY: ★★★★★
FOUR HANDY KAYAK CARTS TO GET YOU ON THE WATER QUICKLY
“C’mon, it’ll be fun,” I promised. The idea for a no-carbon, paddle-and-pedal circuit on our local rivers and roads had hit me Friday afternoon. There was just one problem: I had assured Vince a relaxing weekend and the no-emission adventure comprised a near marathon. “It’s not that far,” I added. He looked at me doubtfully before grabbing his bike.
QUANTUM ENGINEERING
STERN WHEELS CART [4]
www.rei.com • $80
End carts like the Stern Wheels are ideal any time compact storage is a priority. Using a flexible plastic cradle rather than a bulky frame, this little helper tucks away without hogging hatch space. The design provides a surprisingly secure hold on your kayak, but the smaller wheels and narrow track width mean the Stern Wheels is best suited to short jaunts over moderate terrain.
VERSATILITY: ★★★ PORTABILITY: ★★★★★ STABILITY: ★★★
DIGITAL EXTRA: Click here to see video reviews and more
kayak carts online, including the C-Tug by Railblaza and Suspenz’s Smart SK Cart.
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