Often damage to boats is caused in transport when a poorly tied canoe or kayak launches off of a vehicle roof while on the highway. Please keep in mind the following things when tying down.
- We are not responsible for damage that could occur to your vehicle when tying down boats. Clean your vehicle roof prior to putting the foam blocks in place where the canoe or kayak will rest. This reduces the risk of scratches from abrasive dirt left between the two.
- Always tie the ends of the canoe or kayak tightly to all four corners of the car. The support you require comes from diagonal ropes – straight down ropes don’t offer even a slight amount of side support in a crosswind.
- It is essential that you have a center strap (two is best!) that passes completely inside the vehicle and out over the canoe or kayak.
- Never tie to the roof racks they put on minivans and some other cars. These racks are often more ornamental than functional and are not designed to hold down a boat travelling at 100km/h into a 30km headwind.
- Take care where you position ropes or nylon straps. Exhaust pipes and mufflers can get hot enough to melt them.
- Stop frequently to tighten or readjust straps – always check after an abrupt stop that may have shifted the boat
- Secure the extra loose ends of the straps so they don’t get tattered at high speeds and twist straps to avoid the annoying whistle of its vibration in the wind.
If all else fails compare yourself to this guy. If you’re car looks like this, you did it wrong!