Vehicle roof rack and boat mounting system

A vehicle-top boat mount comprising:

• mounting structure securable to a vehicle roof;
• a mounting frame securable to the mounting structure;
• a universal joint connected to the mounting frame;
• and
• a roller mechanism connected to the universal joint, the roller mechanism including a roller support which is pivotal, with respect to the mounting frame, through the universal joint, about two non-parallel axes of rotation that are substantially coplanar along their respective lengths, the roller mechanism further including a first roller mounted on the roller support, the first roller being rotatable, with respect to the roller support about a first rolling axis.

A vehicle-top boat mount operable to provide support to a hull of a boat, the mount comprising:

• mounting structure configured to be secured to a vehicle roof;
• a mounting frame securable to the mounting structure;
• a gimbal supported by the mounting frame;
• and
• a boat support configured to support the boat hull, the support coupled to the gimbal, the gimbal generally allowing the support to pivot with two degrees of freedom about a central gimbal point, the support, during a boat-loading operation, receiving the boat hull and accommodating the shape of the boat hull by pivoting on the gimbal about two non-parallel axes of rotation that are substantially coplanar along their respective lengths.

A boat mount for frictionally engaging a boat on a vehicle roof, the mount comprising:

• first and second towers respectively attachable proximal opposite lateral sides of the roof;
• a crossbar extending across the roof between the towers;
• and
• a roller mechanism coupled to the crossbar, the roller mechanism including a roller support and a roller positioned to contact the boat and mounted on the roller support, the roller being rotatable, with respect to the roller support, about a rolling axis, the roller mechanism further including a lock operable by a user selectively to prevent rotation of the roller about the rolling axis.