So I finally got a roof rack ordered for my car.

Rhino Rack

Im just curious as to what kayak carrier attachments that you guys think is the best? Right now I will just be using the foam blocks I was using except this time hopefully I wont be scratching my roof. I've thought about the J-style ones that hold them up at angle but what do you guys use? It will be awhile before I can afford to get any kind of carrier attachemnt but i'd like to know now what I need to save up for. Thanks!

I've typically just strapped my kayak right onto the roof rack, however i recently got the side mounts from amazon to mount the kayak sideways in hopes of adding another one to the fleet. (or having room for a rental..)

http://www.amazon.com/TMS-KAYAK-RK-J-1BO...=I1Y198WFZKX5YJ

I use those on a yakima roof rack i got off craigslist.

This was my thinking also. Id like to eventually have room for and the ability to carry 2 on my car for any long trips me or my buddy want to go on we can save on gas using my car over his truck.

And wow those are cheap! Cheapest I could find yesterday when I was looking was about $80 per set of those J-Racks thanks for that link!!

I dont use any cradles. I have 66" crossbars so I can fit two side by side fairly easily. I think that would be the only advantage of the cradles is stacking multiple boats with shorter bars.

Yeah I have a 2006 fusion and the roof is not wide enough for 2 kayaks flat side by side that's the reason im interested in the cradles. That and looking for any easier way to load my yak that i can find.

yeah, they're cheap. The reviews are spot on about lack of instructions though, you get a box of parts you have to put together but they have tips on how to make sense of it all in the top review.

I just couldn't justify the price of thule/yakuma ones and these looks like they will hold up. i take them off between uses so they're not out in weather all the time. I'm on a small hatchback so i don't have much width to work with and i find strapping down to these feels a bit more secure than flat. (i also don't feel like i'll break the yak form either tightening down too much)

I would stay away from the J cradles that stand the kayak up unless you need to transport two of them. My buddy had his yak come loose on the highway due to really strong cross winds. That's a lot of wind resistance when they're standing up.

I use the Yakima LandShark cradles and I love them. You just need those and the Q-Clips. Total cost was maybe $80. I got it from Mountain Sports in Arlington but they carry them at REI I believe.

Nathan.....the 2500 series is the ones I use......be sure to check the Allen head screw that tightens the clamp portion on the foot to the roof....mine works loose pretty easy after cinching down the yak on the crossbar a few times.......and lube the little locks on the covers for that screw....the first time I went to tighten things up I almost could not get them off....

I use the foam blocks to carry both kayaks. They are about 31" wide each I think.
I do have a Thule stacker too but it's more of a hassle to load them and I don't really need the space for more.
If I had wider yaks, I would go for the Malone wings. You can mount them closer to the edge and gain some with.

How close is your roof limit to both Kayak weight? Thats what I'm worried about trying to carry two kayaks. So far I've carried just one and attach it straight to the rack. I do have the yakima craddles and hully rollers but a kayak dealer told me to just turn it upside down and use pool noodles to cushion it and not use the cradles.

i always strap down the front of the yak and never had anything float.. i get more wind resistance with the things flat on my roof

I was about to say about the kayak flying off. Sounds like he didnt have the bow and stern ratched down and had just the kayak strapped to the J-hooks. I always run a ratchet on the bow and stern and alos run a gator clip style strap around the middle that secures inside the car. It would have to break all my straps or flip my whoel car over for the yak to fly off. I do appreciate the warning though!

Thanks for the tips ill have to remember that! Do you think adding a little locktite to the allen head screws would keep them from backing off like that?

Malone Sea Wings.

Really love them.