Staying with the theme of tying things down... the Nite Ize carabiner Figure 9 is a great product for those who don't know how to make knots, or those who just want to make life easier for themselves.
Regular carabiners are also useful tools that "just work."
Pictured here with one of my favorite flashlights Niteye MSC20 (except that I can't pocket carry it due to the magnetic rotatory switch, which sometimes self activates.)
I like the carabiner 9 better than the regular 9. It is just more versatile.
Regular carabiners are also handy for making a quick connection.
Here I use three carabiners.
I took about a 12 foot length of paracord and put a small bowline at each end.
They got looped over the hood supports, and the hood was closed and they were not going anywhere.
Next I put an over-hand loop in the middle of the line, and I connected a carabiner to it.
So the first kayak is nestled into the two wedges of foam rubber that are hot glued to a closed cell anti fatigue pad, to keep the boat from rocking side to side.
The carry handle is snapped into the carabiner.
The next kayak is nestled into the first, and it has a short line tied into a loop with a carabiner attached which is clipped into the over-hand loop tied to the hood supports.
These two kayaks are pulled backwards to take up any slack in the front lines. Then they are tied with a single loop of paracord, and secured with a carabiner figure 9, inside the cab of the car.
The 3rd Kayak is secured by it's handle cord, and a carabiner to the second Kayak in the front.
It is pulled backwards to take up any slack, and then tied with a single loop of paracord to the other two, and the roof of the car and secured with another carabiner figure 9.
The back ends of the kayaks were tied to my receiver hitch.
I also put a loop around the tail 25% of them just for better security, to keep them together.
When I bought my last kayak the blue sit on top, I did a covid pick up at the store. I am sure the people sitting in their car behind me were shocked to see that I could throw that on top of the car, and tie it off in about 90 seconds and drive away. I am sure they could tell that this was not my first rodeo. LOL :)
I used to use a ratchet strap, but the figure 9 is SO much faster, they are never to be seen again. :whistle: