Hi All
Recently while talking to other SUP owners in the local break car park , we all came to the same conclusion no one seems to be making a suitable ratchet straps to anchor your SUP to the roof of the car.
Some of the problems we encountered were-
We found that the hooks on the straps are to long and rigid, and unable to secure around the bar and back onto strap and in my case I have a eye bolt in middle of roof rack and the bottom of hook goes through the eye and presses into board when straps are tight.
The strap itself is to short on the ratchet end ,so you can not wrap the strap around the bar and hook onto itself.
The ratchet while being tightened finishes at a rail damaging angle requiring board protection padding. 
Ability to secure from one side of car, leaving board unsecured while running round to other side of car to ensure hook is in eye of lug bolt.
I have looked through the rack manufacturers catalogs for possible improvements, all seem to be selling the same stuff.
If anyone has any ideas of improving or better straps available I would love to hear
Red
I would never use ratchet straps because of over tightening..
Cambuckle straps are probably the best option..
www.bunnings.com.au/
+1...
Used to use ratchets on my surfboards. Ended up with a huge crease in the top board from over-tightening.
I now use the 4m Kanu Locks (when I bought them they were called Stick Protection Technology). Allows me to lock them on so no bugger can steal them when I park the car.
4m is enough to go around 3 SUPs and two surfboards without a problem. The 2.5m ones only make it around 1 SUP.
Cambuckles work but don't give you the protection from the discounters (of the five fingered variety)
I agree with the others, never use a ratchet strap, too easy to damage the rail.
One of my fave products we sell is this one from ION. Mega straps with X Heavy duty buckle, neo pads and crazy strong. This is all I use, or if necessary, Kanu Locks.
Pricey, but you certainly get what you pay for!
windsurfingperth.com.au/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=46&category_id=3&vmcchk=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=2
DM
Well you probably got the message already... Don't use ratchet straps.
The wider tie downs, like the ION ones are great. I''ve cracked a rail tightening the standard 2cm traps too tight before, but never any problems with the wide heavy duty tie downs. I've used the wide staps from ION, Dakine and NeilPryde and all 3 are great products.
I find the Kanu 4m straps are unreal as sups are generally to big to fit in the car so you are able to leave the boards locked on the roof after a surf while you get a pie and chocolate milk. They also come in handy to use as a handy bike lock or to keep the kids out of trouble
don't know why youse dont just get a big van and a cattle dog to solve all these problems
Sea breeze has done it again,consider myself told ,going out tomorrow to get the cam lock type straps.
Thanks everyone for the good info.
Red
The lockable cam-buckle type called Kanu straps - be warned a pair of 4m straps retail at $100. Save your rackets for ladders or building supplies!
Even with cam buckles you can easily over tighten, I've done so and cracked a rail on my carbon Coreban Edge - very sad!
I've since added a set of Rola brand canoe holders - they are a soft rubber strap slung between pivot arms which allow the fitting to take the shape of the board and thereby apply the strap pressue over a greater rail area. The second thing I did was add Rola strap towers to each end of the rack. I can undo the straps on one side, hook it back through the cam & lock it 1/2 in situ - and do that for each strap.
To load I lift the board into the cradle, undo the strap and chuck both ends over the board, then tighten on the other side. As the strap runs from the strap tower (like an eye bolt sticking up 10cm from the rack on each end of the rack) the strap is not compressing the board downwards on the rails. The canoe holders stop any lateral movement.
Most board on rack situations you have to tighten the straps up pretty tight to stop the board moving side to side. The canoe holders stops you having to do this. The canoe holders were $145 for the set of 4. The rack towers were $25 a pair, 2 pairs required.
Unfortunately I did not stop and figure this out before I cracked my board, but then again, it only took 1 cracked board for me to learn my lesson.
Having thick foam pads between the racks and the board helps with the risk of over tightening the tie down straps.
It's best to only have the straps just tight enough even if the board wobbles around a bit at high speeds.
DJ
