Thule Hull-a-Port Pro Folding Kayak Carrier

it folds fast and well. easy and quick both up to use, and down for regular driving. during the season i put my kayaks on a couple times a week and there is no sense having to take it all off just to put it back on! and with a full size truck and rack, i don't want to stick up any higher than i have to for my normal commute! it comes with thules great big plastic nuts for easier installation/removal, but i took those off and installed lock washers and hex nuts to mount it to my rack a little more permanently.. and it doesn't weigh much, its all aluminum, foam and plastic! its not lockable, as to lock a boat down you would need some sort of cable system anyways.. i even bought a second one, have one on each side and can fit another kayak (or 2) on the rack in between the 2 carriers..

This carrier works very well, the folding action is not only useful but makes it easier to attach the straps. The cushioning is good protection for the kayak. The only problem I have with this is the paint on the rack, it scratches easily and is prone to pitting and rust. I have resorted to covering the tubing with vinyl tape to protect the painted areas. Thule makes great racks but they really need to do something about the paint.

I have two pairs of these. They work perfectly. They really secure the kayaks well. The appear to be well made and should last for quite awhile. I bought the Hull-A-Port Pro's so that I would be able to drive into the garage. I could not clear the garage opening with the regular J-style Thule kayak rack mounted on my SUV. However, I have encountered one small problem. And this is probably only a issue when the Hull-A-Port Pro is mounted on an SUV or tall truck. It is difficult to reach the release bar which locks and unlocks the upright sport arm. The support arm can be swung up when the bar is pulled. However you have to pull the release bar AND flip the support arm up at the same time. You can't pull the release bar and then swing up the arm. Try it that way and the release bar pops back into place locking the arm down. On a sedan or station wagon that would probably not be a problem as it would be easy to reach both the bar and the arm simultaneously. However it is a bit of reach (I'm 6') on my Saturn Vue. I can reach the release bar but when I try to flip the arm up the release bar locks again. It is a two handed operation and my wing span is to short. I have resorted to taking a plastic milk crate with me...it holds my bilge pump, water bottles, PFD's etc. I can stand on the crate and reach both the bar and swing arm at the same time. Other than this minor problem (and it would probably not be an issue on a sedan or wagon) the Hull-A-Port is great. Easy installation, looks good and it truly secures the boats well. I carry one 9 footer and a 12 footer. If it is a short trip I don't even bother with the front tie down. (Thule recommends using both front and rear tie downs). Once the kayak is secured I can grab it and yank it hard enough to rock the vehicle. Would certainly recommend this product to others.