LOL
Sounds about right. This is all new to me so I’m very excited to be learning all I can.
two words - foam blocks
– Last Updated: Feb-11-11 11:45 AM EST –
You don't eliminate the saddles and strap a kayak to the rack directly. You use foam blocks. You can use them 'as-is' or modify them for a small percentage of the cost of saddles, which is another part to wear out, another point of potential failure and costly to boot. Here's the thing: YOU CAN PROFILE FOAM BLOCKS TO APPROXIMATE SADDLES. The only reason for the vast selection of saddles is that people will buy them.
Boats are shipped all the time by dealers and typically they don't use specialized saddles.
I own a ten-year-old composite boat and I have never used saddles. I never did on my poly boat either. Neither boat showed any sign of permanent deformity, the composite boat showed little to no deformity even when tightened down.
I would never recommend saddles to any new paddler. There is better gear to spend your money on than a piece of plastic costing $75 a pair.
no no no , don’t toss the buckle end …
… of a cam strap over the top , toss the non-buckle end .
Unless something is different now a days with Polypropylene rope … it’s not a very good choice . Polyester ropes on the other hand are nice .
No argument
I said rope works, then offered some real world advice if that method is chosen.
Then offered my opinion which the op or anyone can take or leave. Having done both “I” prefer straps for speed, non-stretch, security. I don’t question others choices but I do question blanket statements that don’t fit my experience.
That simple… do what you want. It’s amazing the energy put into such simple stuff…
I agree with that
I just didn’t think a simple “padded crossbar” is perfectly good for every boat. I envision a padded crossbar has being wrapped with padding so that it’s perhaps the diameter of a pool noodle, and when I’ve seen kayaks strapped to that small of a surface area, tight enough that it won’t shift around, the hull material usually bends. Something a little more conforming to hull shape doesn’t have that problem, which is why everything you say makes perfect sense to me.
If refering to my post
you’ll note that I said saddles etc are appropriate for some hulls. There’s another strap trick that can be done which effectively makes a saddle with padded bars but I can’t imagine the effort it would take for me to relay that here… This is fun between conferencs calls though.
My wish to all here is years of happy paddling and trouble free kayak / canoe hauling, whichever method you employ.
shrink-wrap is the coolest, though
Please accept my apology for any
misinterpretation.
sure you can toss it
(if you have the straps with the rubber covers on the cams)
sure you can but …
– Last Updated: Feb-11-11 7:06 PM EST –
...... why would ya ??
My Yakima straps have padded buckles but the non-buckle end goes right over . As a matter of fact "all" the remaining strap goes over , then under the bar and back over again .
I am curious about the polypropylene rope though ... has anything changed that wouls make it a good optional choice ??
I rely on three
a bowline to secure one end, a trucker’s hitch to cinch it down, and half hitches to tie things off.
Polypropylene Today
The polypropylene rope I purchased in recent months is a braided rope that is as pliable as the braided nylon rope I’ve used. Working strength is somewhat less for the diameter but with my experience, I have no fears whatsoever that it will hold adequately.
The cam straps available in my locale were equipped with hooks on the ends, hence no loose end. Hmm? After all, I’m not a complete idiot!
Bottom line… Rope works for me, and has for the past 22 years. Remember, I’m not knocking cam straps, just offering an alternative that might be simpler, more economical, and more versatile.
Happy Paddling!
I’m interested in checking out some …
– Last Updated: Feb-12-11 1:18 AM EST –
...... of the modern PP ropes ... gonna keep an eye out for it , you've got me curious now .
I've got a few hanks of the yellow braided PP (old type) think I picked them up at a flea mart ... it's pretty slick stuff and doesn't knot too well with the knots I know of (loosens up easily) ... got no memory , when it stretches it stays stretched . I like it's waterproof character though and it floats .
I don't get it , cam straps with hook ends , how's that work ??
Diamond Braid Polyypropylene
Hey pilotwingz,
Koch Industries www.kochmm.com makes a 1/4" dia braided with a working load of 50#. Item #5170825.
I know, some will question the 50# limit, but after all, I’m double roping the bow and stern and sure, if I hit a tree at 65 MPH, I’ll probably lose the canoe. If that happens, I’m thinking I’ll have other things to worry about.
Seriously though, http://www.yakima.com/shop/water/water-accessories/boat-strap-kit lists this cam strap boat tie down kit as having s-hooks. My browser won’t pull up the photo and I don’t have a shop locally so I just looked at what’s available at my local hardware stores, checked out Yakima on line, and decided that for about $4.00 I can buy a 100 feet of rope.
I don’t know where you are or if you have a Farm & Fleet store available, but that’s where I bought my rope. They also had 3/8" dia but I decided the bulk was more than I wished for. If I was lining a craft down a rapids, I might consider the 3/8, or maybe a climbing rope, but I’m just puttin’ it on a roof rack.
I keep a loop tied on one end of my cross ropes and just stick it under the rack bar, stick the loose end through the loop, toss it over the canoe, walk to the other side, and with a quick loop under the cross bar and three half hitches, I’m on my way. In over 20 years, I’ve never had an issue with this other than the nylon stretch factor. Ya’ just can’t beat a couple of half hitches locked together. Quick, simple, and effective.
I hope this helps.
“Cam straps with hooks on the end” ???
How does one feed the hooked end through the cam ???
I think you were looking at ratchet straps
Jack L
I have cam straps with hooks
– Last Updated: Feb-12-11 5:22 PM EST –
that I use all the time. The cam buckle has a short strap and a hook attached to it and the long strap has a hook on one end. They look just like ratchet straps but with a cam buckle instead of a ratchet.
I had to do a quick "google" to see what cam straps you guys are talking about. In my neck of the woods if you ask for a cam strap it has hooks on it. If it doesn't most people would probably throw it away.
I was visualizing that as I put my post
above, but never knew they existed.
-Never stop learning!
Thanks for the heads up
Jack L
I get it now …
– Last Updated: Feb-13-11 10:34 PM EST –
...... had to do some surfing to visulize how it works . Couldn't see how you were suppose to get the s hook through the cam buckle , lol .
You don't , lol . The straps with the hooks are two pieces that join at the cam buckle ... I couldn't get my mind past a single piece strap until I looked at those two piece jobs .
50 pounds?
Please, for everyone’s sake, use something stronger!
A 50# rating means you could snap it or weaken it just tying it on! I’ll bet you can a few times that breaking strength with your bare hands.
If that’s really the rating, please use a different rope.
My recollection about polypro rope is that it’s much more susceptible to UV breakdown than Polyester braid. And 1/4" Polyester braid has a breaking stength of 1500 pounds!
ya know , that’s a good point really !!
… I’ve not much concern about giving someone a cam strap to hook up , maybe a quick glance and tug test just to cover a six . Worse case I guess I might tighten it a little more .