The van I use has a cargo barrier with a hole that the board noses can poke through. To fit my largest sail ( 7.8m Severne overdrive) I need to poke the clew end through the gap. Even if I do it carefully I don't like the idea that it is getting squished.. I was thinking of strapping it onto the roof racks instead but wondering if it is possible to do that without damaging a cammed sail? Anyone got any suggestions for how to strap it on and protect it? I have a quiver bag but that is full of heaps of smaller sails and lives in the van. The 7.8m is too long for it anyway.
Large diameter PVC pipe with end caps? I forked out a while ago for a Gun Sails Combi sail and mast bag, proved to be a good investment for long haul trips when I have people instead of gear in the car, the mast bag part ties down firmly and the sail bag part just clips in on top, then I just thread a safety line though just in case there is a problem with the clips, but never has been. I would certainly avoid tying mono or X-ply sails down firmly on a rack, the cams will be fine, but the material doesn't like to be creased. If its only a short distance, tie them loose and drive slow?
Strap on loose to minimise crushing.... only needs to be tight enough to stop lateral movement and that's not much. Go clew end to the front, as that is the skinny end and then it won't be able to slide forward. If you can't make it slide back n forth much by pushing with your hand then it probably won't move at all. But to be safe, tie the handle of the sail bag to the front and rear racks so it can't slide under breaking or mammoth acceleration.
If it's something u need to do often, u could get a couple of shock cords the right length to go from the handle to the racks so it is a 1min job to strap it on.
Great idea with the PVC pipe! Will have to have a look before the weekend. Bunnings have it? I won't be tying it on often as the van won't fit in the garage with roof racks on. The vans not mine and I can't put the racks on very often. It's just that I'm going away this weekend. It's prob 1.30-2hr drive each way + storage all weekend .
Bunnings only have water pipes up to about 100mm ID. I think your sail will be larger than this (suggest measure diameter). If so, the only place I know that stock larger sizes are the dedicated plumbing supplies outlets, like Reece etc. From experience, these larger sizes are very dear.
Not a great long term solution, but for occasional use, even for extended drives, duct tape does an awesome job of keeping low weight, low profile things stuck to roofracks. A couple of firm (non-crushing) wraps around the sailbag and roof rack, and it sticks so well you'll struggle to remove it without a knife, as long as dry tape is applied to dry tape. It's remarkably tough stuff. Keep the sailbag taught to stop flapping.
If you're really concerned about strapping your sails to the roof racks just sew holes in the sail bag that align with the racks. this way the straps only go through the bag (not over the sail). Sails can even be strapped to top of board with this method.
John340 said.. Sails come is 200 x 200 cartons so you will need at least 200 dia pvc tube
I has a sail carton recently and cut it up and recycled it ..argh!! I think Ive found a carton that can be used! Knew I'd stuffed it in the roof a few years ago for a reason..
sausage said.. If you're really concerned about strapping your sails to the roof racks just sew holes in the sail bag that align with the racks. this way the straps only go through the bag (not over the sail). Sails can even be strapped to top of board with this method.
I have used two boards stacked and a mast bag to protect the sail. Place the sail between the boards and mast bag as protection and only put enough sideways pressure on the sail to hold it in place. 90% of the downward pressure goes to the boards. Works fine. Also put the clew end facing forwards and push the sail right in.
The cardboard carton isn't quite long enough and won't be real good if it rains.Might have to tie some of the boards on top and use a bike lock on them and place the sail inside through the hole which will be bigger with less boards poking through...Not a long term solution though. Adriano I'm finding it a bit hard to visualise.. sideways pressure?
John340 said.. Sails come is 200 x 200 cartons so you will need at least 200 dia pvc tube
I has a sail carton recently and cut it up and recycled it ..argh!! I think Ive found a carton that can be used! Knew I'd stuffed it in the roof a few years ago for a reason..
Mark _australia said.. Seeing as though it is infrequent - and PVC costs a fortune - I think you have the answer in Mikey's taping it on. That's brilliant.
Just build a freaking cheap wood box and put it on top, just tall enough to fit a rolled up sail, but it could be wide enough to put an entire quiver into it. Bolt it onto the racks so it's part of the system. Been done many times by many people, it could even have a locking door.
Knew I'd stuffed it in the roof a few years ago for a reason.. 
