: I want to build a 20-21 foot double strip kayak. I have a very small car
: (Ford Escort). Does anybody know if you can transport this length kayak on
: this small a car?

Sure thing. Lots of ways to do this.

The general idea is to mount a long rack-like support to the top of the car in order to spread the load and mount the boat to the long support. If you have a ladder, consider mounting that to the top of your car. A 16 foot extension laddre has two 9 foot long parts. MOunt one of them to the roof rack or crosbars, and to the front and rear bumpers. This will then support the middle of a 20 foot boat with only about 6 feet hanging over each end of the ladder.

If you don't have a ladder, then make a 10 foot long support beam with a "T" or "u" cross section from a ten foot long 2x10 or 2x12 and 1 or 2 ten-foot long 2x4's glwed and screwed to it. It will be strong, inexpensive, and you can drill it or bolt it or tie it as you need. For a few dollars more you cna make such a support 12 or 14 feet long. If you go with a "u" shape beam, you cna cover the edges fo the 2x4s with caprpet and eliminate the need to make and mount cradles along it for the boat itself. The boat will simply sit inside the trough formed.

Have you considered a trailer? Tow as many boats as you want behind the car -- and have a storage area for the gear, paddles, and cooler as well.

PGJ