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(More customer reviews)I have a Thule Roof Rack on my '08 CR-V and this Kayak carrier fits on it quickly and securely. As far as the kayak, I have a 13' Necky Manitou and it seats very well in the J-hooks. The supplied straps for each J-hook and the two ratcheting straps for either end of the boat really help to secure it down.
There is virtually no movement when traveling over bumps and >70 mph on the highway. In fact, it moves far less than my bikes do when they are on the roof rack. Getting the boat off is a breeze too (assuming it's light enough and your car isn't too tall for you). You unlatch the 4 straps and lift the boat right off, takes all of 45 seconds.
As far as wind noise of the J-hooks when you DON'T have a kayak on the roof - you don't even need to worry about it. Each J-hook fits on top of the rack and a plate swings underneath the roof rack and gets screwed to the J-hook via a thumb screw. And that is the beauty of it... when the kayak isn't on the roof, you undo one thumbscrew, swing the plate around, take the whole J-hook off and toss it in your car/truck. Saves on gas mileage and noise. Putting it back on takes 1 minute. The whole installation and removal of the J-hooks is so fast that getting the more expensive 835PRO with the fold-down J-hooks almost seems useless. Why fold it down and have someone steal it right off your car (these do not have thule locks or any lock for that matter) when you can just take it off in 20 seconds and lock it in your vehicle!
For those worried about locking the kayak to protect from theft while transporting, I have seen specific "Kayak Locks" made for J-hook style carriers that wrap around the kayak and roof rack (which I'm assuming the roof rack is locked to your roof...it should be!). They fit snugly too so you can't lift anything off the rack to get at the J-hooks. They are around $50 or so but they keep your $1000+ investment secure!
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Thule 835XTR Hullaport Rooftop Kayak CarrierRedesigned for improved value while maintaining great performance, the rooftop-mounted Thule 835XTR Hullaport Kayak Carrier maximizes load bar space for other carriers. It fits Thule square, Aero, Yakima round, and most factory installed cross bars. The 835XTR offers great kayak protection with adjustable foam padding, and it's easy to transfer from vehicle to vehicle with its universal mounting system. It includes ratcheting bow and stern tie downs, and two load straps with buckle protectors.
Manufacturer's Warranty It's backed by Thule's limited lifetime warranty. The warranty is terminated if the purchaser transfers the product to another person. The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, cosmetic rust, scratches, or accidents.
About Thule To say that Thule's beginnings in the U.S. were humble would be an understatement. Founding member Ake Skeppner sold products at windsurf competitions on the New England shoreline, exhibited the product line at a number of different trade shows, and even canvassed local retailers in the greater New York area, all from his "office"--a now-famous station wagon. Initial success was found in the small but growing sport of windsurfing where a strong, reliable roof rack was an indispensable piece of equipment. This was quickly followed by success in the ski business where Thule's Swedish heritage certainly helped the product gain rapid acceptance.
By the mid-1980s, the company sold products directly to ski and windsurfing shops but sold through distributors to address the large and growing bike business. A risky decision was made to terminate these distributor relationships and sell direct to retailers through a network of independent sales representatives. Much of the company's market success today can be traced to that decision. Shortly after, Ake hired an engineer and set up a small assembly plant in Elmsford, New York in order to design and manufacture bike carriers that would offer the features demanded by the U.S. consumer and compete effectively with other racks on the market.
The company has since grown rapidly through product innovation, a commitment to quality, and the continuance of a strong entrepreneurial spirit as well as continuing to evolve their products to meet the needs of users.
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