Can I add my recommendation for a bow line too. On just my second trip I lost mine, and instead of pulling out the perimeter line to use that as I should have, I drove off without a bow line.

As I crossed a bridge at 90km per hour a bolt sheared on my roof rack, and the kayak flew. Fortunately I always use a stern line which was still on so instead of making a journey to Australia, the kayak merely somersaulted and dragged behind the car. It was a testament to how strong these boats are - all I had to show for it was a scratch where the kayak pivoted on the bike rack with the stem on the window (with a full 15' of kayak hanging behind), and the bow tip had to be replaced. By rights it should have snapped in half.

I got unlucky with the rack, but that's not the point - I now never break my rule of using a bow line, and still wonder what must have gone through the mind of the driver behind me as 17' of blood sweat and tears turned into a potentially lethal missile, but for a bit of rope tethering her to the tow hitch.

Regards, ian