Mike McCrea wrote:

Jack Mulligan wrote

2. Securing the boats to the top of the car is another concern of ours. We
have a well used Yakima rack system for carrying the boats, but securing
them for an over night stay along the interstates is something else. I'd
hate to arise at some Motel 6 to find an empty car top. Any suggestions?


When we do a motel stay while cartopping boats I always ask for a room
"down and out, up front". Most motel clerks know that means a 1st
floor walk out room, up in the front of the motel (as opposed to a
second floor room, or one back in the shadows at the rear of the motel
with the car parked amidst the idleing semi trucks). I feel safer with
my vehicle parked immediately outside my motel room door (my boats are
locked down and it would take some time and noise to get them free).

When leaving boats on the car at night, I also add a bicycle cable as
the bow and stern lines. Locked to the car chassis and the grab loops,
they are difficult to take off, to say the least. Another benefit is
that if the potential theif cuts the grab loops to take the boats off,
they have really shot themselves in the foot.

I assume that 17' sea kayaks are more difficult to steal than, say, your
average playboat, and are probably, as a result, less attractive targets.

Rick