I built a car-top carrier for my AI. It worked great but it was a real hassle. I mounted the rear of the carrier on a modified bicycle caddy and strapped the front end to the top of my car. But this always took a lot of time. Then I had to mount the AI and Amas on the carrier and strap them down. The whole operation usually took over an hour. Here is what the finished product looked like:
I decided a trailer would be better. I could strap the AI to it along with the Amas and the AKAs and mast. I could just leave them there permanently, with a cover over them of course. Then when I was ready to go sailing I could just Throw the Mirage drive, plug, paddles and dagger board in the trunk and take off. (I have the seat permanently glued in.) That would save me at least an hour. I found a small boat trailer on the web for $300.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... umber=5002I ordered it, assembled it and simply mounted my car-top carrier to the trailer. I left the boat rails off of course along with the two rubber rollers. I mounted the lights on a 1+4+4 mounted on the rear instead of on the metal frame. This meant I had to run an ground wire back to the frame. But the lights work gret.
I removed the front AKAs from the AMAs so that the AI would sit flush. Otherwise I just strap everything down using three cinch straps from Lowes for about $7 each. For the rack I used two 2+4+10s and nine 1+8+4s.
Works great and I love it. And best of all I have a brand new trailer and everything, including trailer, lumber, bolts and screws cost less than $400.
Note: This is the only boat trailer that Harbor Freight sells. They sell several other utility trailers that you might mount a kayak rack on, but the distance from the hitch to axel on all of them is far too short to use as an AI trailer.
Ron P.