Yakima showboat kayak vehicle loading assist / Rooftopping my Sportsman PDL 120

Here's a quick video showing my Yakima Showboat 66 kayak loader on my SUV. Helps me effortlessly load and unload my 90lb kayak with ease and avoid having to take my trailer all the time! This loading rack is so easy that I rarely take my trailer unless I need to haul 2 or 3 kayaks or Imif I'm taking camping gear also that I need my trailer for.
I've looked into multiple different types of these loading assists and this one came out on top for my needs and it hasn't disappointed, I've been using this system for year and a half multiple times a week and not a single issue.
Clearly it won't be for everyone, but I wanted to put this out there to inform people of their options.
My Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 kayak is at the max end for this, and even surpasses the recommended weight by a small amount but after almost 2 years I personally am confident enough that it handles my kayak no problem.
yakima.com/pro...

[@gabriellabennett7024]

Good advice on the rack pads because I left my kevlar kayak on my roof rack for a couple of days and it deformed and cracked the kevlar

[@silentjoutdoors]

Ya thats not good! I don't usually leave it up there but it's spent at least a few days before with no issues. These Old Town kayak hulls are very thick also so with this kayak/pad combo I won't ever have issues

[@MRQturbo]

You still have to lift it pretty high.. I car top an ap120... Went with the Yakima long arm... I only need to lift it to trunk level and then I'll push it on the racks..

[@silentjoutdoors]

It's for sure their are multiple great options out there, this is the one I liked the most for my needs. As you can see, it was rather effortless for me to load. So the benefits I wanted from it really outweigh having to lift it a little. I'm 34 and in shape but for people less able the long arm is a great solution! Thanks for pointing that one out! I'd love to be able to get all the loaders and do a big comparison video on each but unfortunately that would be very expensive. Just a few of my reasons for not going with the long arm, it doesn't allow access to your trunk and I wasn't looking for something I need to take on and off constantly. This goes on the vehicle in the spring and doesn't come off until ice. The long arm also doesn't allow me to tow my trailer when I'm doing big trips with friends and we have 3 kayaks loaded up and doesn't allow me to carry a bike rack.

[@godson9808]

Video of what straps you use and how you strap it down on your roof rack.

[@silentjoutdoors]

Ya no problem I can do that! I use NRS cam straps. 4 of them. 2 around the kayak and roof rack and 1 in each handle to the permanent roof rail. Have done hundreds of KMs like this with zero movement

[@JohnGoetze-fl5qp]

I enjoyed your video on this load assist system. I bought this load assist system at a garage sale. Although it was never used, the round bars are 58” long not 66”. I have a 2023 Kia Sportage like yours. Do you think this system will work on my Sportage? John

[@silentjoutdoors]

@JohnGoetze-fl5qp I think it would, definitely doesn't hurt to try! The only issue I could see is you'd have to move your front bar back kind of a lot to have the wing on the back work as it should. But if it works then it works!

[@JohnGoetze-fl5qp]

@@silentjoutdoors Thanks for quickly addressing my question.

[@silentjoutdoors]

@JohnGoetze-fl5qp my pleasure! My videos are all for helping people with things I've done or things I use. Have you had a chance to measure and see if it will fit? Hopefully it does because it's a great system. I didn't measure mine but looking at it the other day I believe I could move the cross bars back more and the 58 probably would work

[@JohnGoetze-fl5qp]

I tried to install the Showboat system on my Kia Sportage. I can’t safely move the cross bars back enough to accommodate the 58” bars. This prevents the roller from extending back to allow me to place a kayak on it without hitting the roof of the SUV. I’m going to try to sell this system. Thanks again….John

[@JohnGoetze-fl5qp]

I’m considering buying a set of 66” round bars so that I can install the Yakima Showboat system on my Kia Sportage. I want to be able to load 2 kayaks with one of the boats being placed in a set of Jaylow carriers. The Jaylow carriers would be setup on the passenger side of the SUV & they would face inward rather than outward. I’d have to load this kayak first. I’d load the second kayak face down over the driver’s side of the Kia. Do you think this would work or should I go with the Yakima boat loader EVO load assist system?

[@how_i_do_this7605]

Thanks for sharing! Curious what kayak cart/dolly that is?

[@silentjoutdoors]

It's a pelican HD cart. I like how small it is and fits super easily into my vehicle with all the other stuff in there

[@fishing4life93]

Awesome video brother very helpful hope to get together for some yak fishing this season

[@silentjoutdoors]

Thank you! And definitely!

[@rayrenz3599]

Not sure if you own a roof cargo box but I’m wondering I can leave the showboat on my racks and use a roof box on top of it. I have a canoe for fishing but I use a roof box for camping trips

[@silentjoutdoors]

That's a good question, you'd have to see how wide the box is, if it fits between the bars of the yakima then you could totally leave it up there, or if the racks sides are high enough to clear the bars of the yakima then it would work. If you tell me the width of the box I can measure the space between the rack and quickly tell you possibly or definitely not haha

[@bri9000]

Do you think this would work with a Feelfree Moken 10 or 12 PDL, or even the Flash?

[@silentjoutdoors]

Yes for sure it would

[@johnryan296]

Is that a motor bracket on the back? What kind?

[@silentjoutdoors]

It's mount for an NK180, check my other videos you'll see it better

[@johnryan296]

@@silentjoutdoors Yes, I did, thanks.

[@andrey4215]

How do you think, this holder will work with 136 autopilot?

[@silentjoutdoors]

It wouldn't, the weight limit for the rack is lower than the weight of the 136. I'd suggest something more like a Rhino kayak loader assist. It's a T bar that attaches into the hitch receiver and can handle like 200lbs

[@MyraKemna]

what kind of kayak is that?

[@silentjoutdoors]

It's an Old Town Sportsman PDL 120

[@GT_Racer347]

Sweet 👍🏼👍🏼

[@silentjoutdoors]

Thank you!

[@Fish_and_broue]

Whats the weight of the pdl 120??

[@silentjoutdoors]

Just confirmed on thw website, its 91lbs without the pedals. But with a few of my accessories and livescope black box, mine right here in the video is probably 100lbs

[@张睿-d8e]

I want to buy it, but I'm worried that I won't be able to afford my 40kg Kayak. After watching your video, I decided to give it a try@@silentjoutdoors

[@vadovelocity9831]

What would be a good rack assyst for a 125 pound hoby 14 360?

[@silentjoutdoors]

Hey sorry just seeing this comment now. For a hobie you'd probably need something more like a rhino rack T loader. It goes into the hitch receiver and supports a lot more weight.