Bowfin rack on 60 series (1 Viewer)

[dogfishlake]

@Godwin @dogfishlake I want to see if I can make this work on a 77 series. Been trying to get in touch with Bowfin through their website for dimensions, but no luck on response. Could you please provide the width between uprights, the overall length. And height from gutter channel to the bottom of the crossbar, to see if it has enough height to clear the bubble of the 70 series roof.

Much appreciated.

Sadly, it wont fit on a 77, though it might be close. The profile of the gutter is matched to each rack. We were close to getting the template done on a 77 series here in Michigan but the truck was sold and I don't have a template now. It won't be a terribly tough rack to do and it should work on 76/77/78 trucks I believe so it definitely needs to happen

 

[dogfishlake]

Nice work Jim! You definitely have the knack for accessorizing. I am hoping the day will come soon where we have time and people to offer more rack models and accessories.

 

[schuy2147]

My previous homemade rack was set up for bolting on Yakima crossbars to carry a pair of canoes. Patrick has on the Bowfin website awning brackets and I thought the horizontal section with the slight rise to clear the side rail would work as a mod for mounting canoe crossbars. I was able to get two pair of only the horizontal plates and test them out.

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I measured and drilled a 3/8" hole for the Yakima bolt to pass through and bolted the plates to crossbars.

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Bolted on the Yakima bars which fit great and now provide the capability to carry two boats.

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Awesome mod. Exactly what I need. Can you elaborate on the clamp for the crossbars? Are those available from Yakima?

 

[Godwin]

Awesome mod. Exactly what I need. Can you elaborate on the clamp for the crossbars? Are those available from Yakima? View attachment 3291570

I got these from @dogfishlake. On the Bowfin website are awning bracket mounts Awning Bracket Mount Set - https://www.bowfincruisers.com/products/awning-bracket, from these I had the idea of just using the horizontal plate with the slight bend as crossbar mounts. Contact Patrick and see if he can help out.

 

[schuy2147]

I got these from @dogfishlake. On the Bowfin website are awning bracket mounts Awning Bracket Mount Set - https://www.bowfincruisers.com/products/awning-bracket, from these I had the idea of just using the horizontal plate with the slight bend as crossbar mounts. Contact Patrick and see if he can help out.

Thanks for the quick reply! I’m tracking on the plate/awning bracket from bowfin, but trying to see where the actual bar clamp that you mounted to the bracket came from?

 

[Godwin]

Thanks for the quick reply! I’m tracking on the plate/awning bracket from bowfin, but trying to see where the actual bar clamp that you mounted to the bracket came from?

The bar and clamp are just standard Yakima parts.

 

[Godwin]

Picked up a slab of plywood this morning putting the Bowfin to use. A sheet of plywood fits with just a little overhang off the rear. We used NRS straps to lash it down. If you purchase a Bowfin and expect to be loading anything from the rear include the roller. Until I used it I had no idea how much easier having the roller aids in loading long objects. We lifted the edge of plywood onto the roller then easily slid it forward.

 

[Godwin]

Put the Bowfin to use as a hammock anchor on a recent short camping trip. I've generally used the ARB on the front to tie off but found the extra height of the Bowfin to be an advantage in raising the hammock above the ground. Too often on humid cool nights the nylon expands with the hammock drooping down toward the ground. This site has ample trees but to run a hammock between trees would have low shrubs possibly brushing up under the hammock. Being able to place the hammock over the clear ground avoids that.

 

[Godwin]

Hauled turtle traps last week utilizing the Bowfin. Each trap is 4' in diameter and ca. 12' long but stack down to a easily transportable size. First pic has three traps strapped down with a NRS cinch strap. Netting tends to catch on every little edge, just an annoyance of working with traps, but having the rear roller aids in loading the traps. Roller has been much more useful that I had anticipated.

 

[Godwin]

Discovered another little perk to the Bowfin rack this week while making a short overnight camp stop. I had to set up a rainfly over the hammock. The ARB is a nice tie off point for the hammock but too low for tying off the rainfly as a space of a foot plus is needed between the fly and the hammock. Tying the fly off to the front edge of the Bowfin provided just enough clearance between the fly and hammock.

 

[Godwin]

Another plug for installing a roller on the rear if you have a Bowfin rack. I needed to move a few 12' 2x12s and loading from the rear with the roller made the job a lot smoother.