After spending a week in September 2012 at Beechey Point, on Philip Edward Island, I drove down the 69/400. After stopping at Parry Sound for supper, I checked the straps and then continued south on the 400. As I had just passed Swift Canoe & Kayak in Tay, I noticed the bow tie line was at the wrong angle. Leaning forward and looking up, I saw my kayak at the wrong angle – the bow had moved from the passenger side to the driver’s side. Pulling off at Hwy 12 and stopping at the gas station/restaurant, an inspection revealed that one of the Thule Set-to-go saddles on the front rack had collapsed. If it hadn’t been for the bow tie line, my kayak would have been a casualty. Pulled another strap from my bag of spare straps and used it against the good saddle. Re-tightened the strap that had loosened with the collapsed saddle. There was no further problem on the way home. At home, I took the two set-to-go saddles off and reworked them, to prevent another collapse. Each saddle now has a cotter pin through the pivoting pieces, to lock the saddle in one position. Ever since, I religiously put four straps on. That includes the bow and stern tie lines and the two straps on the racks. Cassandra
Posted on: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 19:25:08 +0000