I built a thing!
Jan. 24th, 2026 09:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bunnLast time I took the canoe out, we struggled to get the canoe on top of my car. It weighs about 35 kilos, which is not *that* much, specially when split between two people - but it feels like a lot when you are lifting it over your head, and it's heavier every year.
So! I went on Youtube and found some ideas, and today I built a sort of stepped ramp thing that lets me lift the boat a little bit at a time. The ramp is attached with removeable bolts to a frame on top of the car, and the rubber stops allow you to 'walk' the boat in small steps. Then you just lift the 'ramp' and you can push the boat onto the car. I got it up there all on my own!
It's not quite right yet. because I didn't properly secure the framework to the car, so it wasn't as stable as it could be, and the end of the ramp got stuck inside the boat, and I had to get Pp to help me take it off again before it got unbalanced. But I have now got a fixing kit for it, which should resolve that.
I think it might help to add a few more stops to make it easier to walk right to the top of the ramp, so you don't have so far to push the boat when you lift the legs.
I have been looking at a Mirror sailing dinghy (from 1972!) that has been lurking in someone's barn in Devon and now needs a new home. The new setup is wide enough that I could carry a Mirror on top of the car, which is what they were designed for originally back in 1962. The one I'm tempted by is from 1972 from the sail number. though they came as kits in boxes, so it could be that the box was from 1972 and it didn't get built till later. Anyway, it's fifty quid, and I'm quite tempted even though I'm sure it will need work.
Finally I changed the headlight bulb on the car. It was very very easy. I've had cars where it was stupidly difficult and so I'd been thinking of taking it into a garage. Glad I didn't, it cost me £7.99, took 2 minutes and I have a spare bulb now!
So! I went on Youtube and found some ideas, and today I built a sort of stepped ramp thing that lets me lift the boat a little bit at a time. The ramp is attached with removeable bolts to a frame on top of the car, and the rubber stops allow you to 'walk' the boat in small steps. Then you just lift the 'ramp' and you can push the boat onto the car. I got it up there all on my own!
It's not quite right yet. because I didn't properly secure the framework to the car, so it wasn't as stable as it could be, and the end of the ramp got stuck inside the boat, and I had to get Pp to help me take it off again before it got unbalanced. But I have now got a fixing kit for it, which should resolve that.
I think it might help to add a few more stops to make it easier to walk right to the top of the ramp, so you don't have so far to push the boat when you lift the legs.
I have been looking at a Mirror sailing dinghy (from 1972!) that has been lurking in someone's barn in Devon and now needs a new home. The new setup is wide enough that I could carry a Mirror on top of the car, which is what they were designed for originally back in 1962. The one I'm tempted by is from 1972 from the sail number. though they came as kits in boxes, so it could be that the box was from 1972 and it didn't get built till later. Anyway, it's fifty quid, and I'm quite tempted even though I'm sure it will need work.
Finally I changed the headlight bulb on the car. It was very very easy. I've had cars where it was stupidly difficult and so I'd been thinking of taking it into a garage. Glad I didn't, it cost me £7.99, took 2 minutes and I have a spare bulb now!
Thoughts
Date: 2026-01-25 06:12 am (UTC)>>I think it might help to add a few more stops to make it easier to walk right to the top of the ramp, so you don't have so far to push the boat when you lift the legs.<<
Yeah, that's probably a good idea ... but not so many that the top ones will get stuck under the canoe in its final position.