Rack Etiquette - Page 2

Ken · 12th October 2011, 10:10 PM

To solve the strap/rail damage issue, I always slipped a small piece of carpet (8 cm square) under the straps at the corner. I would also twist the strap as it ran across the bottom of the board so it wouldn't "flutter" and mark/damage the board.

Basically any rock hit on a horizontal surface (top or bottom) should be insignificant. However, the leading edge (nose or tail) are at the greatest risk since the hit will be straight on rather than at a parallel angle.

COACHG · 12th October 2011, 10:19 PM

Mercedes Benz conducted a wind tunnel test on boards carried on roof racks and the findings showed that wind noise and drag could be reduced by positioning the equipment on the car with the nose toward the front of the car, the deck facing down and the nose overhanging the roof as little as possible. This study is posted in the book “Start Windsurfing Right!”

Coachg

nakaniko · 13th October 2011, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COACHG

Mercedes Benz conducted a wind tunnel test on boards carried on roof racks and the findings showed that wind noise and drag could be reduced by positioning the equipment on the car with the nose toward the front of the car, the deck facing down and the nose overhanging the roof as little as possible. This study is posted in the book “Start Windsurfing Right!”

Coachg

And so if a german car brand gives this test results, usually it mean that this is the better way to carry a board.
Anyway when I went to Munich to pick up the Serenity, the Starboard distributor staff suggested me to put the long serenity (460 cm) over my 430 cm car in this way. So Starboard itself does agrre with the test.

Philip · 14th October 2011, 10:56 AM

And the NP board bag I have is silver side to the bottom of the board which to me says the silver goes sunny side up nose forward. Have always carried boards that way because I don't want lift at the front of the car at motorway speeds.

nakaniko · 17th October 2011, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philip

And the NP board bag I have is silver side to the bottom of the board which to me says the silver goes sunny side up nose forward. Have always carried boards that way because I don't want lift at the front of the car at motorway speeds.

For sure! I was forgetting the simple and right thing you say! I know a lot of famous brands that use to do this.
I can also add that all bags are streamlined to go tip forward, having smooth edges in the bow, and instead having zipper and more free edges in the stern; so they are clarly ALL intended for a bow-forward carrying.
Therefore the main pressure imho comes not from straps, but from rack bars pressure, so it's way better to have the stronger deck in contact (even with foam spacers) with them.
No more answers from the opposite party?

Farlo · 17th October 2011, 10:49 PM

I also carry my boards upside down and nose forward (now always in bags). In the past you could really damage the hull with over-tightened straps plus solar heat. I remember polyethylene and also ASA boards with very deep marks. However you don't need to tighten the straps too much, moreover with a soft tube around the bars. The only advantage I see with tail forward is that you can check the fin through you windshield so you know the board is still on the roof.

18th October 2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nakaniko

For sure! I was forgetting the simple and right thing you say! I know a lot of famous brands that use to do this.
I can also add that all bags are streamlined to go tip forward, having smooth edges in the bow, and instead having zipper and more free edges in the stern; so they are clarly ALL intended for a bow-forward carrying.
Therefore the main pressure imho comes not from straps, but from rack bars pressure, so it's way better to have the stronger deck in contact (even with foam spacers) with them.
No more answers from the opposite party?

Wow, the way you make your conclusion is so ludicrous!
A follower. Not a thinker. :-p

Philip · 18th October 2011, 03:41 PM

Nakaniko makes a good point with the roof racks. In the early days a lot of people learnt the hard way that the forces acting on the bars and their roof connectors is a lot more than imagined. So nose forward uses this downforce to an advantage provided you have quality roof racks which most people have now days. Roof outlines on some cars are a odd shape though (for roof racks anyhow) and might affect the way the board is carried. A bit like buying a car to go snow skiing only to find that chains can't be fitted.

nakaniko · 18th October 2011, 08:14 PM

Unregistered, I'm not an engineer so I can find proofs for one or other opinion only with the tests made by privates and brands. But It's not me the one that have just told that Mercedes made a test and found the better way was the "classical", I'm surprised a bit you consider this not relevant, especially seeing how Mercedes and other german car brands are considered there in Usa (I'm not german, I'm italian).
So pheraphs mine are not proofs like the Mercedes one, but they are added elements to talk about the problem. But If none between NP and other brands have considered the other way of carrying the boards there should be a reason, don't you agree?
I must confess that mostly I go windsurfing alone with two boards lying inside the car beside me, so I don't carry boards outside too much, only when travelling with my girlfriend. As far as I can remember I've tried some time the not-classical way, without feeling relevant differences, and pheraphs a little loss of speed; but I'll try again, having nothing to loose as my boards (Score) are old, so not much value to risk.
The classical system anyway has big advantages for sure with a board with daggerboard, as this last can easily fall down on the car roof if board is carried stern forward and hull down, so for sure I'd avoid to suggest the other way to all beginners and raceboarders; hey, this is a Nico's original idea! So at least in this I'm a thinker not a follower!!

(BTW a 44 years male, with C6-C7 ernia but still windsurfing (33 times from 1st of April) and snowboarding in winter, with 8 various windsurf boards, who dared to go alone in Munchen and buy an out of time 460 cm board called Serenity and carry home in his town, being pheraphs the only or one of two owner of this crazy marvellous board in Italy ; windsurfing (also) in Venice watertown where he use to go out and rig over the water surface in shallow waters unloading the board from a boat; and also who madly travels in summer north to Denmark to look for real even if colder summer winds instead staying in quiet sunny beaches of Italy (being "the only italian to go windsurfing north in Denmark" as told me kidding mr. Keppler in Pforzheim); so all these things seems coming from a follower or a thinker?)
;-))

Farlo · 18th October 2011, 10:27 PM

Did Mercedes make the test with or without bag? IMHO the difference is much less sensible with a bag. Moreover if you add one boom, two masts and three sails it may become unnoticeable. But as you say women and windsurf are not compatible inside the car. By the way Nakaniko, you're not the only Italian to go windsurfing in Denmark;-)

12th October 2011, 10:10 PM	#11
Ken Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas USA Posts: 798	To solve the strap/rail damage issue, I always slipped a small piece of carpet (8 cm square) under the straps at the corner. I would also twist the strap as it ran across the bottom of the board so it wouldn't "flutter" and mark/damage the board. Basically any rock hit on a horizontal surface (top or bottom) should be insignificant. However, the leading edge (nose or tail) are at the greatest risk since the hit will be straight on rather than at a parallel angle. __________________ Toys: Formula 160; iSonic 111; HiFly Move 105; Tiga 263; '85 Mistral Superlight. Maui Sails TR 11.0; 9.2; 8.4; 7.6; 6.6; Maui Sails Switch 6.0; 5.2; Maui Sails Global 4.5; 4.0.

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12th October 2011, 10:19 PM	#12
COACHG Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 146	Mercedes Benz conducted a wind tunnel test on boards carried on roof racks and the findings showed that wind noise and drag could be reduced by positioning the equipment on the car with the nose toward the front of the car, the deck facing down and the nose overhanging the roof as little as possible. This study is posted in the book “Start Windsurfing Right!” Coachg

14th October 2011, 10:56 AM	#14
Philip Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 157	And the NP board bag I have is silver side to the bottom of the board which to me says the silver goes sunny side up nose forward. Have always carried boards that way because I don't want lift at the front of the car at motorway speeds.

17th October 2011, 10:49 PM	#16
Farlo Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 513	I also carry my boards upside down and nose forward (now always in bags). In the past you could really damage the hull with over-tightened straps plus solar heat. I remember polyethylene and also ASA boards with very deep marks. However you don't need to tighten the straps too much, moreover with a soft tube around the bars. The only advantage I see with tail forward is that you can check the fin through you windshield so you know the board is still on the roof.

18th October 2011, 03:41 PM	#18
Philip Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 157	Nakaniko makes a good point with the roof racks. In the early days a lot of people learnt the hard way that the forces acting on the bars and their roof connectors is a lot more than imagined. So nose forward uses this downforce to an advantage provided you have quality roof racks which most people have now days. Roof outlines on some cars are a odd shape though (for roof racks anyhow) and might affect the way the board is carried. A bit like buying a car to go snow skiing only to find that chains can't be fitted.

18th October 2011, 08:14 PM	#19
nakaniko Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Venezia, Italia Posts: 133	Unregistered, I'm not an engineer so I can find proofs for one or other opinion only with the tests made by privates and brands. But It's not me the one that have just told that Mercedes made a test and found the better way was the "classical", I'm surprised a bit you consider this not relevant, especially seeing how Mercedes and other german car brands are considered there in Usa (I'm not german, I'm italian). So pheraphs mine are not proofs like the Mercedes one, but they are added elements to talk about the problem. But If none between NP and other brands have considered the other way of carrying the boards there should be a reason, don't you agree? I must confess that mostly I go windsurfing alone with two boards lying inside the car beside me, so I don't carry boards outside too much, only when travelling with my girlfriend. As far as I can remember I've tried some time the not-classical way, without feeling relevant differences, and pheraphs a little loss of speed; but I'll try again, having nothing to loose as my boards (Score) are old, so not much value to risk. The classical system anyway has big advantages for sure with a board with daggerboard, as this last can easily fall down on the car roof if board is carried stern forward and hull down, so for sure I'd avoid to suggest the other way to all beginners and raceboarders; hey, this is a Nico's original idea! So at least in this I'm a thinker not a follower!! (BTW a 44 years male, with C6-C7 ernia but still windsurfing (33 times from 1st of April) and snowboarding in winter, with 8 various windsurf boards, who dared to go alone in Munchen and buy an out of time 460 cm board called Serenity and carry home in his town, being pheraphs the only or one of two owner of this crazy marvellous board in Italy ; windsurfing (also) in Venice watertown where he use to go out and rig over the water surface in shallow waters unloading the board from a boat; and also who madly travels in summer north to Denmark to look for real even if colder summer winds instead staying in quiet sunny beaches of Italy (being "the only italian to go windsurfing north in Denmark" as told me kidding mr. Keppler in Pforzheim); so all these things seems coming from a follower or a thinker?) ;-))

18th October 2011, 10:27 PM	#20
Farlo Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 513	Did Mercedes make the test with or without bag? IMHO the difference is much less sensible with a bag. Moreover if you add one boom, two masts and three sails it may become unnoticeable. But as you say women and windsurf are not compatible inside the car. By the way Nakaniko, you're not the only Italian to go windsurfing in Denmark;-)