Been using rope for tying my sailboards on the roof racks, so it's time for an up-grade. Can anyone recommend some decent, easy to use, tie down straps?

The best roof rack straps I've found are these lockable ones with the steel wire built into the straps. I bought them because of the lock. However the best feature is the wire cabling in the strap. The straps don't get blown around by the wind as much as a normal roof rack strap. Not sure what they are called as I bought them a few years ago. They have lasted well too. They were not cheap, about $80 or something like that but are worth it.

+1 for Mobydisc said. I am pretty sure these are the ones he is talking about www.kanulock.com/ I am use them as well and rate them very highly but they are not cheap.

They look pretty good. I'm not sure how I'd feel about having $2k - $3ks worth of boards left on the roof though... thieves can be pretty enterprising!

Be careful with the kanulock straps, the wire in them can lead to damage on your board. I only use them when I am stopping somewhere for a while and feel the board needs to be secured.

I recently found the FCS straps, they have wide webbing and a pretty good mechanism for getting them tight.

I have a couple of sets of Chinook Wrap Straps which I have been really happy with.

http://www.chinooksailing.com/products/product_info.php?cPath=6_63&products_id=149

Heres a local supplier:

www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/showProduct/Racks/Tie+Downs/350708/Chinook+3.6+M+Wrapstraps



After you do up the strap, you just fold the leftover length up into the neat velcro pouch. Miles better than a normal strap where you have to wrap the leftover length around and around itself, and always seem to have a bit extra flapping around banging on the roof.

Obviously the straps mentioned by others are better though if security is an issue. I know Sue down here has the lockable ones and has said a few times she has come back to her car parked in the street to find someone has started to unravel the straps before being foiled by the locks. Maybe SW rocks is safer than Newcastle :)

Cheers
James

Ill sell you the ones moby talks about for $50 .. Worth $100 . Used, about a year old msg me

If you don't want lockable - go to an auto store.
Ones with the same buckle system as the Chinooks pictured above (so same as 99% of surf straps) are about $5 each.
I think we get ripped orf cos they are for watersports........

I have a NP set which are awesome ... partly cos I got them free .... but the 300kg rated ones form Supercheap for $5 each work just the same.

Loving the idea of the pouch on those Chinook ones though!

give me a call and will organise some for you

Thanks guys for the good info. Will probably go a non- locking one as SWR's is pretty safe. Usuaully only take one board at a time anyway. The Chinook one seems a winner.

Avoid 'GRUNT' straps or anything similar. Forget the kg ratings too - user the straps the better, minimum 38mm.
I got done great NP straps from WSP. The dogs bollocks

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aus301 said..
I recently found the FCS straps, they have wide webbing and a pretty good mechanism for getting them tight.

I used the FCS straps for years and years until I got a wagon. My old one's were just starting to fray but I'll buy another set for sure - wide to spead the stress, tough and a great tensioning mechanism.

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PhilSWR said..
Been using rope for tying my sailboards on the roof racks, so it's time for an up-grade. Can anyone recommend some decent, easy to use, tie down straps?

Rope to tie off your boards.....thats like using rope to tie off your boom....

Youls be stoked when you get your straps, its quick easy and secure!

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Waiting4wind said..

PhilSWR said..
Been using rope for tying my sailboards on the roof racks, so it's time for an up-grade. Can anyone recommend some decent, easy to use, tie down straps?

Rope to tie off your boards.....thats like using rope to tie off your boom....

Youls be stoked when you get your straps, its quick easy and secure!

Don't you use harness ropes? Fancy, non-rope straps are on their way.

Do yourself a favour and get some Kanulocks. Very happy with my sets.
It might be a bit of an overkill locking down a Bombora tri-fin though.

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jamesf said..

I have a couple of sets of Chinook Wrap Straps which I have been really happy with.

http://www.chinooksailing.com/products/product_info.php?cPath=6_63&products_id=149

Heres a local supplier:

www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/showProduct/Racks/Tie+Downs/350708/Chinook+3.6+M+Wrapstraps



After you do up the strap, you just fold the leftover length up into the neat velcro pouch. Miles better than a normal strap where you have to wrap the leftover length around and around itself, and always seem to have a bit extra flapping around banging on the roof.

Obviously the straps mentioned by others are better though if security is an issue. I know Sue down here has the lockable ones and has said a few times she has come back to her car parked in the street to find someone has started to unravel the straps before being foiled by the locks. Maybe SW rocks is safer than Newcastle :)

Cheers
James

James I just have usual tiedowns but I use a bikcycle lock to go through each boards footstraps and around the roofracks as my security. Those covered metal 'rope ' ones that lock and people tie their pushies up to posts with..
A few times I have found someone has started to undo the front tiedown and then realised the boards have the bike lock on them..
Mind you after I lost the key and Mat found several ways to get them off the roof even with the bike locks they are only a deterrent..

Amazingly I managed to get some really good quality super-wide straps from Bunnings. Only seen these ones stocked in one store though - all the rest everywhere else is rubbish.