In the world of kayak fishing, mobility is king. Kayak anglers pride themselves on their ability to get where power boaters can’t. A big portion of that versatility relies on being able to tow the plastic rigs and launch them where boat ramps do not exist. Whether you are walking your fully loaded kayak from the parking lot to the ramp, or hiking a mile through the woods to reach that secret spot, one piece of gear instantly proves its worth, the kayak cart. The kayak cart has been a part of kayak fishing from the beginning. Whether it is a homemade contraption or one of the mass produced brands, they have been a constant in the kayak fishing world. Though many iterations of a simple concept have hit the market over the years, it seems that each one has its flaws and imperfections, making angler use them more begrudgingly than with enthusiasm. The gear heads and kayak accessory masterminds at Yakattack have set out to change that.
Introducing the Yakattack TowNStow BarCart. A versatile yet heavy duty cart that is both collapsible for ease of storage and strong enough to handle the heaviest of kayaks. And as with all Yakattack products, they are well made and durable. The BarCart is slated to hit the market in March of 2023, but lets look at what we know as of now. The quick details: -No tools required -Pre-Production Weight: 12 – 14 lbs. -Wheel size – 12” diameter, 2.5” wide -Bunk Orientation Adjustability: Max 21.75” , Min width 6.25” -Collapsible bunks: 44” assembled, 17.75” collapsed -Axle Length: 32.5” -Folded chassis size – 32.5” L x 7.5” W x 4.75” H -Made from UV resistant polymers, anodized aluminum, and stainless steel -Built with stainless steel hardware -The rubber tread, injection-molded wheel is the current option but there will be a Wheeleez adapter kit available around Fall of this year. -The cart will be shipped 98% assembled. The only parts that will not come setup are the Dual Kick-Away Kick Stands -Target MSRP: $250.00
“After 18 months of intense development, the YakAttack design team has truly redefined the kayak cart category. Combining best-in-class quality and durability with never-before-seen features and functionality, the TowNStow BarCart is one of the most highly engineered and versatile products we’ve ever produced!”
Here are some more extensive details about the individual features, straight from the Yakattack website:
Bunks and Tie Downs With the vast and ever-evolving shapes of modern-day kayak hulls, we knew our bunk system would require extreme versatility.
When we found that inline bars worked better on some boats while crossbars worked better on others, we decided to build both options into the BarCart. You can transport “roof rack style,” putting the bars in a crossbar configuration for boats with pontoon-shaped or reasonably flat bottoms, or you can configure them in a traditional “bunk-style” configuration, where the bars are parallel to the hull of your vessel, for kayaks with more of a “V” shaped hull. In this configuration, the bars can be locked into 9 different positions, depending on your boat’s width and the shape of its hull.
Securing a kayak to the BarCart is not a one-size-fits-all proposition either, so we added a number of different tie-down points. Strap loops integrated into the wheel hubs work great for kayaks that are wider than the wheelbase of the cart, and a centralized tie-down point located at the center of the axle is great when transporting narrow watercrafts. The tie-down points are designed for 1” flat webbing cam straps (not included), but you can also use rope with less than 5/16” diameter. For added grip on the underside of your kayak, the BarCart includes four super “grippy” and easily positionable rubber bumpers. For long-term durability we opted for designing snap-on rubber bumpers instead of standard foam.
Storage and Collapsible Components So, you’re at the launch, now what? Sometimes it’s not convenient to take your cart back to your vehicle, and doing so leaves your kayak and gear unattended and susceptible to theft. We solved this problem by making the BarCart ultra collapsible. The wheels can be removed with the push of a button. The bunk bars, long enough for even the widest fishing kayaks, collapse with a heavy-duty ferrule and bungee system, enabling them to go from a 44” deployed length to less than 18” in a compact and secure package. The uprights fold down, parallel with the axle, making it possible to store the BarCart inside the hull of a kayak. All of this can be performed with no tools using smart and simple buttons and levers. If needed, everything minus the centralized tiedown point can be removed from the aluminum axle.
Dual Kickstands The BarCart comes with two kickstands. When configured with one on each side, you can optimize and support the loading angle for both sides of the cart. When not in use, the beefy kickstands snap in place, locked out of the way.
Like all Yakattack products, the TowNStow BarCart is clearly well thought out. It is made in Virginia, like myself. However unlike myself, it comes with the “Built for Life” guarantee. Ensuring your money will be well spent far into the future. Yakattack prides itself on innovation, ease of use, and function-ability for anglers. This product will certainly fit that description. It looks like getting your heavy kayak to the water will finally become a pleasurable experience. We look forward to getting out hands on one soon!
Josh Dolin