Kayak on a crossbar system

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

When you use a quality rack system, do you need to tie the front and rear of your yak to the vehicle, or are the center straps enough?

[OnAFly]

Depends on the setup. I could throw my 16ft Penobscot on top of my jetta, strap it down in two places and be good to go wherever I wanted. My ex's G6 however...we needed to strap that thing down in about 10 extra places. The rack just didn't very securely attach to the car.

Throw the yak on the rack, if you can move it, then strap it down in the front and back. (I wasn't planning on that rhyming so well )

[tolle141]

Take the extra minute and tie it front and back. Heck of a lot better than seeing that yak or canoe explode on the road.

I didn't for a whole summer, then I got hit with some major crosswinds off Lake Superior and my jbars literally crumbled at the bar. Center straps were the only thing that held it on for the 200 feet it took to stop.

For the record, Thule has theee BEST customer service I've ever experienced. They sent a whole new set within two days and didn't want the old stuff back.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I should add that it will be a fishing yak around 12 feet long on top of a SUV.

[yakfisher]

Tie the front down. I've had my 14ft old town predator go sailing off my roof when the clip on my Yakima bow down gave way.

[Cheetah]

I agree with tying down the front. If you get in a strong cross-wind it is amazing how much the boat can move around.