That kid better thank God those boards didn't go through your windshield and
kill you!(come to think of it, maybe a word of thanks may be on your to-do
list as well).

Having seen and heard my share of horror stories of kayaks and canoes
blowing off the top of vehicles(kayaks make excellent projectiles and they
don't flutter in the wind like surfboards, they tend to bounce on the ground
once and then fly up into the radiator/windshield area).

Liability normally rests with the driver of the vehicle, regardless of who
tied the stuff on top of thevan or who owns the projectile.  That's where
those umbrella policies really start to become a value for the dollar spent.

DM&FS
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kitzmann" <kitzmann@EXIS.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, August 27, 2001 12:34 PM
Subject: Surfboards and other near disasters

> A friend of mine and I went to the Outer Banks to go surfing over the
> weekend in my 82.  Everything was fine until we were coming into Buxton,
> near Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, when suddenly two shortboards came off a
> little red Honda in the oncoming lane.  They twirled in the air and moved
> into our lane due to the wind.  Since they were at about eye level I
> swerved to the left.  The two surfboards then suddenly dove down to the
> ground and wack, wack, I ran straight over one with my left tires.  I
> Swerved back into my lane and pulled over to inspect the van as soon as I
> could.  Good news, the van handles emergency manuevers wonderfully, the
> only damage some wax on both left wheels and a small tear in one of the
mud
> flaps.  Bad news, some teenager had  two new 2.5 ft surfboards for only
> $450 and some stupidity.  Word to the wise make sure those straps are on
> before driving off with something on your roof.
>
> Dave K.