Re: [Paddlewise] Car topping -- bow/stern tie-down

----- Original Message -----
From: "Emile Zen" <emilezen_at_yahoo.com>
> Dave Gorjup <dgorjup_at_cox.net> wrote:
> the roof rack alone, on my Olds mini-van, is not adequate for holding a
> kayak by itself. They can rip right off the roof.
>
> Thanks for the warning.  So what happens if your car has those
aerodynamic-looking bumpers, affixed to the body to appear contiguous, and
there is nothing to tie down to?  I think I missed one of the replies to
this inquiry.

Emile,

In just about any car you can always find some place to hook a carabiner or
have a captive strap in place.  You need to probe underneath beyond the aero
bumpers for some frame member.  Cars like folding kayaks have skins and
frames.  In a folding kayak you have frame places to tie things to inside
the boat; in cars you have frame places for attaching the "bumper" tiedowns
for kayak carrying.

It may help if you can see the car up on a hoist and find those holes in the
frame or intersections of frame parts that can have a cord tied through or
around.  Otherwise crawl under and look around.  Once you find those places,
you need to determine if they are easily accessible for the everyday process
of tie downs or if you need to leave something captive like a cord or a
bolt.

ralph diaz

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