This was a good review I came across on TKF and figured I would share...
http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=196706

I disagree with the article. Car topping is easy with a PA12 by myself.

I'd say its about right. But... mariners rule pa's drool

Thanks for sharing over here. I wrote the review. I havent tried car topping my PA yet, but as I said its more manageable than my Mariner was to load and unload on my Malone trailer.

The propel drive is a bummer when something goes wrong with it, since Native wont sell parts for it. You will be forced to send it to them for repair or pay $700 for a new Propel drive. My drive failed and I lucked out getting a new one just before the warranty ran out. However, I had to do without for a month and I have some clout with ACK.

All in all, I loved my Mariner, but the PA even more. Reverse isnt needed, because the PA12 spins around in a turning radius considerably less than that of the Mariner.

To each is own, but not being able to buy replacement parts for the Propel sucks!

Hey Tiger,
Do you have any photos or videos of how you do this? Those are amazing yaks, but I was leery because I want to avoid trailers (and of course I have to save a ton of money up for one). Any info would be helpful.
Thanks

I car top my PA solo all the time. Piece of cake.

Just search YouTube "loading pro angler with boat loader"

Maybe I'll do a video of putting it on my Jeep on Thursday...

I had this same concern and didn't know car topping the PA 12 was even an option until TeamHeineken and Sleeping Tiger told me otherwise. I think it will be my next boat now that I know I don't have to get a trailer also.

That's amazingly easy. I took tiger's advice and found great demos of car topping a pa on suv's, etc. I'm shocked. I assumed it would be like putting a tank on top of the car, but when I think about it car topping a 15 or 16 foot sink is probably more awkward.

Are you getting one Thursday? If I was getting a PA on Thursday, then I wouldn't be able to sleep all week.

I used to own a hobie outback. Car topping an outback was actually harder. The outback wants to slide off the boat loader bar and tends to be less stable. Where as the PA with the flat bottom and the rear has two points where it come in contact with the ground is far more stable and will not slide off the bar. Also because the PA has a flat bottom, I no longer need my mako saddles and Holley rollers so I sold them. Another positive on the PA is that it has a very good front and rear handle, lifting it is a cinch. The outback doesn't have a handle, but a knob with a string. On the rear, the rudder is in the way of the knob and string. Lifting the outback was a pain.