How To Properly Tie Down A Kayak?

To tie down your kayak to your car, use cam straps. These straps can be fed through buckles and cinched down without special knots. Start by looping one strap around your front and rear bars. This is an essential skill for kayakers to avoid highway carnage. Tie off the loose ends of the straps just below the cam buckles and tie any remaining slack to the crossbars.

Tie a bow line from the front of your kayak to the tow hook under your front bumper, then tie a stern strap. You can use cam buckle or ratchet straps to secure the kayak. The straps will cross through the longer J Hooks (facing the back of the kayak) over the kayak. Attach the cam to one loop, wrap one full time around the nose of the kayak, and secure to the other loop with a truckers hitch or pull gently down on the end of the strap and cinch until secure.

Toss over the cam lock side of the straps, secure but not tighten, and attach the bow via a tie down loop under the hood using an empty empty bag.