: I concede that you probably can get away without lashing for and aft if you
: have a van where the racks are far apart and you don't have too much
: overhang.

: What seems to happen with a catastrophic failure is that the wind picks up
: the bow and lifts it. Then the leverage kicks in and wrenches your rack
: clamps clean off the gutters and denting the back of your roof as your
: kayak takes off still firmly attached to what is left of your racks. With
: the bow tied down the roof rack becomes a cradle (and only has to function
: as such) and the forces at the end are secured and kept in check by the
: ropes.

Straps can fail as well. I had a strap failiure (operator error) on the front rack and that bow strap to the bumper was put into service big time. Glad I had it on.

Steve