That's Fit In The Field: Yakima Showboat

That's Fit In The Field -- where gearheads test health and fitness products under real conditions. We'll grub up the stuff, run the trails, jump on a rock wall, backpack, canoe and hit the gym -- putting gear to the F.I.T. Challenge to rate Fit, Innovation and Toughness.

That's Fit In The Field recently put the Yakima Roof Rack system and Yakima HighRollers to the F.I.T. Challenge test, and now we are ready to report test results on the ShowBoat, Yakima's load assist roller designed to easily load multiple boats for that upcoming kayak or canoe trip. Here's a full report:

• My intrepid gear-testing husband confirmed this was the simplest Yakima gear installation yet. All you need is an existing roof rack system, -- you've scored a Yakima rack by now, right? -- the ShowBoat, and two extra crossbars to load boats with ease.
• The ShowBoat rollbar conveniently slides from left to right to assist you in loading multiple boats and protect your vehicle when loading. Nice.
• Two people loading a relatively heavy boat makes you worry about denting the car. With the ShowBoat, one person can load by gently balancing the bow on the rollbar, stepping nimbly back and rolling your water baby onto the rack with a lift/push from the stern.
• Less of a load, less grunting -- you'll never have to lift more than half your boat's weight.
• Solo boating was not possible for either of us before the ShowBoat. If you can maneuver the bow onto the rollbar, a serene, solo paddle is in your future.
  
  

Yakima ShowBoat garnered high marks on the F.I.T. Challenge test -- scoring high for Fit with its simple installation and compatibility with existing or new boat mounts; even better for Innovation with the side-to-side rollbar maneuverability, front/back release lever to push the rollbar out of the way post-loading, and a built-in locking system; and finally, a good score for Toughness with stainless steel/brass hardware and a solid, padded rollbar. Don't miss the gallery for a loading demonstration. Yakima offers a helpful video, too.