: What would you gain by tying the boat to the ladder which you have tied to
: the car as opposed to just tying the boat directly to the car? My guess is
: that you're trying to figure out how to secure the boat in the middle when
: you don't have a rack attached to the car. No problem. You can do that
: just fine with foam & nylon straps.

: My rack-equipped car spent a couple days in the shop getting a hose
: transplant last August while I was visiting my parents-- leaving me
: driving my mother's non-racked Acura Legend. My niece & I got to the
: beach & back with two 17 foot kayaks on the roof. I laid two bath
: towels on the roof so I wouldn't scratch it, and tied the boats down at
: both ends and in the middle. To do that, I opened both car doors, ran the
: strap over the boats, and around into the car, threaded one end through
: the cam buckle on the other end and cinched it tight. - flat nylon webbing
: straps work great, because you can still easily close the car doors -- it
: probably wouldn't work so well using rope. The boats rode securely, if not
: elegantly. If I routinely had to move a kayak on a non-racked car, foam
: blocks would have been nicer, but the towels worked fine (and yes, I did
: shake the sand off them & wash them before I stuck them back in my
: mom's towel cupboard!!) It all worked out okay. I didn't scratch up my
: mom's car roof. The boats got to the beach & back without falling off.
: My car got a new set of hoses --*before* anything real exciting (like
: having one blow out on some highway and have coolant spewing everywhere)
: happened -- and now it runs just fine.)

: Of course, you could just roll down the windows and run a rope through &
: tie down the boat in the middle, but that would make it more difficult
: getting in and out of a 2 door car...... however, it would make it more
: entertaining for any spectators at your put-in.....

: Julie Kanarr

This worked for me and lasted over 2,000 miles from Fresno, Calif. up to Port Townsend, Wa. for the R2K1 gathering and back. Only had to tighten one rope one time.

I got the foam at a used foam shop, for around $15.00, instead of $100.00 + for new. I cut the bottom section to fit between the side rails on the car and that way it didn't slide, not that it would have anyway. They I spray glued the little pieces together on top and shaped them to fit inside the cockpit. That both locked it in place And kept the 70 mph wind out of the inside of the boat. Rode up there like a baby. Yeh, Yeh, Yeh, it's a little Okie-fied, but it's not $500 extra Kayak $$$'s either. Try it!! You'll like it!!

Rehd