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DIY kayak tie-down

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Sturdy nylon straps provide easy tie-down attachments mounted permanently underneath your vehicle’s hood. We used an old dog leash, but the jury is still out on whether it’s worth saving a little money this way, as the metal clip can scratch the vehicle. Just doubling over a nylon strap, burning a hole through the ends and bolting it down ensures a non-scratch system. Note that front and rear tie-downs should be used in conjunction with straps or ropes to hold down the middle part of your boat. <p> Nite Ize Small Figure 9 Carabiner rope tighteners make tension adjustment easy. <p> <em>All Captions: Dave Mull</em>
Sturdy nylon straps provide easy tie-down attachments mounted permanently underneath your vehicle’s hood. We used an old dog leash, but the jury is still out on whether it’s worth saving a little money this way, as the metal clip can scratch the vehicle. Just doubling over a nylon strap, burning a hole through the ends and bolting it down ensures a non-scratch system. Note that front and rear tie-downs should be used in conjunction with straps or ropes to hold down the middle part of your boat.

Nite Ize Small Figure 9 Carabiner rope tighteners make tension adjustment easy.

All Captions: Dave Mull

Determine how far you want your straps to hang out of the hood from the bolts where you’ll attach them. Use bolts under the hood that go into the metal frame and not just plastic. <p> Cut straps to size. Then, singe the ends to prevent fraying and double over the end you’ll secure with the bolt.
Determine how far you want your straps to hang out of the hood from the bolts where you’ll attach them. Use bolts under the hood that go into the metal frame and not just plastic.

Cut straps to size. Then, singe the ends to prevent fraying and double over the end you’ll secure with the bolt.

Hold the strap with vice grips, grip a large nail (we used a tent stake) with pliers and heat to glowing red. Poke it all the way through the nylon.
Hold the strap with vice grips, grip a large nail (we used a tent stake) with pliers and heat to glowing red. Poke it all the way through the nylon.
Bolt the strap down tight and you’ve got your front tie-down attachments ready for a single length of Paracord to loop through your new nylon loop or dog chain clip. Secure with the Figure 9 Carabiner.
Bolt the strap down tight and you’ve got your front tie-down attachments ready for a single length of Paracord to loop through your new nylon loop or dog chain clip. Secure with the Figure 9 Carabiner.

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