Apparently you can fit a 9’6" in a Chevy Bolt. I don’t particularly want a Chevy, and I have to drive a considerable distance to go surf my 9’6". Roof racks apparently murder range in electric vehicles, so if I could cram my stick in the cabin, then getting a 2019 Leaf might be a reasonable option. Obviously, there are other considerations as well.
Thanks, guys.
https://www.surfer.com/blogs/surfer-approved/2017-chevy-bolt/
I don’t think so. An 8 foot kayak barely fits in my RAV4 and a Leaf is smaller than the RAV4. You can always take the surfboard to the Nissan dealer and try it out as long as it’s clean they won’t mind
The Bolt has a large cabin for a vehicle of its size. I think it’ll be difficult to find the same space in a vehicle of similar size. Have you considered a hybrid SUV?
Is it legal to have it protrude out the back window, if you get a car with a hatchback window that winds down?
If it were to protrude out the back window, you’d generate turbulence and the range would drop off again. I think it needs to be inside the cabin to maintain range.
It might fit - I have a smaller car than the Leaf and I am often surprised at what I can fit in there - surprisingly long loads can be threaded through the rear hatch and into the front passenger footwell (with the front passenger seat reclined).
I reckon you need to take your board to the showroom and try it out - quite apart from the length that will fit between the rear window and the front of the passenger footwell, you also need to consider the width of the board - if it fits, but restricts the arm movement of the driver, it’s no good.
just parked next to a leaf, its about 6 feet long inside so no way you fit that surfboard in it
Where are you? I’ll be right over with my stick, we can wait for the driver to come back and see if we can talk them into a test run.
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?t=7368
This guy say he has 10’ PVC pipe with the hatch closed, so that’s getting there.
wheelbase is 8.8 feet but part of that distance is outside the passenger compartment - under the hood.
PVC pipe is very narrow so it can be put in across the car much more easily.
Gonna have to ditch the longboard oldtimer.
Or get acollapsible board.
Can you use foam pads or blocks and just strap it to the roof? At least it is not permanent like racks.
If you don’t want to try this at a dealership, it may be worth renting one for a day to try it out.
If they won’t let you put the actual surf board into a car that isn’t yours… go to the local hardware store and buy a 2x4 10 feet long and ask them to cut it to the same length as your board. Then sand the edges so there aren’t any splinters. Carry the 2x4 to the dealership and see how it fits. Remember your board is wider, but length is the main concern.
OP, I think you should just ask a dealer if you can try it out. This seems like the whole reason dealerships exist. I’d be surprised if they wouldn’t accommodate you,
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hatchback with a rear window that winds down. Some wagons had roll down rear windows but those aren’t quite the same thing. I
If they aren’t willing to let him put his surf board in, why would they allow the 2x4? Furthermore, the 2x4 isn’t going to be a good proxy for a surfboard. The surfboard is a lot less flexible and the width means you can’t route it through the passenger compartment the same way you could thread a 2x4. I’m guessing the PVC pipe mentioned went from the passenger-side footwell, through the gap between the front seats and diagonally back into the hatch. I don’t think a surf board would fit the same
way.
Nothing says California like surfing and fussy, I’m-saving-the-environment cars. Here is your chance to gain immortality by combining the two. If the 9-6 board won’t fit, play around with some designs until it does fit. Maybe it needs to be 3" shorter or 1 1/2" narrower in certain spots.
Then get a local surfboard building dude to make one. If it works, name them after yourself and sell 'em.
Or at least try it on top. Don’t use a rack. Figure out a way to hold it tight to the top. Little clips on the side. Magnets. Quinoa. Paper mache holster made from old Obama posters. Get creative. Surfboards look pretty aerodynamic to me.
Or - two piece board! 2 piece surfboards... | Swaylocks
Dennis
If you’re in California, you might look into the eGolf; this review indicates it has a lot of variously-sized cargo space without, unfortunately, specifying maximum length.
hm, California might not be the requirement it used to be… when they first announced it, they said it would only be available in California.
I have to say this has been a most enjoyable, somewhat absurdist discussion. To clarify a few points:
I live in British Columbia. You can really only surf on Vancouver Island, and Tofino works for me. If you look a google maps, you’ll note that from the turnoff from Highway 19 near Parksville, there’s a dearth of services, with few gas stations, much less recharging stations. Scenic Port Alberni is the main stop. It can be a sketchy enough trip with a gas car if you’ve forgotten to fuel up. Using an electric car looks doable, but I’m worried that any loss of range due to wind resistance could switch is from - “it’s a long trip” to “you’re stuck charging for ages” or “you’re stuck on the side of a terrifying mountain road, or worse, stuck in the middle of a terrifying mountain road, waiting for the tow truck”. FWIW, I don’t live near a dealer - it would be a loooooong trip, again, with a surfboard on my current vehicle - to test out the sizing. That’s why I thought I’d start with y’all.
I am considering or have considered various other solutions, such as
(a) sucking it up and driving a gas car,
(b) sucking it up and getting a rack and maybe sitting at the recharging station for ages
© sucking it up and getting a hybrid,
(d) getting a shorter, or modular board,
(e) renting a storage space closer to my surf spot for my board,
(f) making a friend who lives near my spot, then abusing that friendship by storing my board in their garage
(g) having a secret, alternate family that lives near my surf spot, who only find out after my death that the only reason they are a family is so that I could store my board at my second family’s house - that might be tough on the kids
(h) moving and changing careers so that I have a gig that will allow me to live near my spot.
(i) getting rich and moving to Hawaii.
That said, I’m not stoked about buying another gas powered car, and I’m not stoked about buying another board. I like my board. This is why I’m trying to check out this other question about fitting it in a electric car.
Thanks for all the ideas.
Get a Chevy Volt. Electric for 95% of your around-town driving. Uses gas economically for limitless range. Prices aren’t too bad, they look decent and they seem to have pretty good cargo space. You might have to leave the hatchback open to get the surfboard in but you’ll make it to the beach without needing to recharge.
(j) Wait for VW van to make a comeback.