RE: [Paddlewise] emergency stops and bow lines

I made little fleece wrappers for my bow and stern lines so my car paint is
protected.  Plus it keeps the lines warm in winter.  I think they provide
better service if their needs are considered.  :-)
Debbie Reeves
Sandy Hook, NJ

> ----------
> From: 	Robert Woodard[SMTP:woodardr_at_tidalwave.net]
> Sent: 	Monday, April 19, 1999 9:35 PM
> To: 	paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subject: 	RE: [Paddlewise] emergency stops and bow lines
> 
> 
> I haven't seen mention of it, but has no one else had a problem with a bow
> or stern strap doing a number on the car's paint job?
> 
> Back when I used foam blocks to carry my canoe on my truck, I *always*
> used
> a bow/stern strap and 1 strap through the cab. It was required to properly
> secure the canoe on my vehicle.
> 
> When I started kayaking and hauling it around on foam pads, I also used
> the
> same tie down method as the canoe. The bow/stern straps provided very
> little
> in the way of holding the kayak to the truck, but did keep the kayak from
> twisting side to side. Not very much was required to keep the kayak from
> going forward or to the rear, and the heavy straps I used were certainly
> overkill. The bow strap also beat the heck out of the paint on the top
> front
> edge of my hood.
> 
> The Yakima racks I now use are firmly attached. So much that when my kayak
> is strapped to them I'm certain that for the racks to come off, the roof
> must come with it. Each vehicle is different, and I've heard of racks
> coming
> loose before, but I'm fortunate to have a good set of steel rain gutters
> on
> both of my vehicles. Anyone who has watched me tie down my kayak knows I
> give a very strong pull on it when done to see if there is anything that
> might come loose.
> 
> The kayak fits well in the saddles. Very little force is required to keep
> it
> in place. The front and rear rack straps are more than enough to keep the
> kayak firmly attached to the roof. Having properly secured the kayak, the
> question for me is, will it stay there if a strap fails?
> 
> The rear strap failing means the kayak could work it's way to the rear and
> fall off at highway speeds. A failure of the front strap could mean
> launching a missile in a panic stop or crash. This assumes that the
> surviving strap didn't hang on any of the deck fittings as the kayak tried
> to slip through. Running both straps under the deck lines might also be a
> good idea, especially for longer trips.
> 
> Because of the saddles the twisting problem I had with the foam blocks is
> not a issue, so any backup tie down method does not have to be limited to
> the bow/stern setup. I agree with the poster that stated the kayak doesn't
> present as much of an aerodynamic challenge as a canoe. Especially if you
> have a cockpit cover across the coaming.
> 
> Each vehicle and kayak/canoe setup is different. The foremost question
> should not be whether you need a bow/stern strap, it should be "Is the
> load
> properly secured?" After this first question is answered, the next
> question
> is "What is my backup if this primary piece should fail?" For some/most,
> the
> answer might be bow/stern straps. For some, answering the first question
> may
> require adding bow/stern straps. YMMV. If you have the slightest lack of
> confidence in your method, it probably isn't secure.
> 
> Woody
> 
> 
> 
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