Sorry if this has been addressed on this forum before! I couldn't find specifics on my question. I just finished building a 17' wooden kayak. I will be transporting it on top of a 2011 Honda cr-v. I'll be buying an after-market base rack (Thule or Yakima most likely and using Yakima's Hully Rollers and Mako saddles). The roof has fixed points for attaching a rack. The points allow for a 27" spread between the bars. Is this sufficient for a boat of this length? I will definitely be using bow and stern straps, too. Another option is to use use a door frame-mounted system (Yakima only) that allows for a 32" bar spread. One person I spoke with unequivocally said I should go with the security of the fixed-point (27") system over the longer but less strong 32" system. I'd really appreciate any advice on this. Thanks!

How wide is your boat? Make sure the saddles fit the boat on 27" Anyone you know or the dealers have saddles you can try to see the required spread you need?

It makes no sense that car manufacturers can't develop a decent factory rack for an SUV. My Edge has the same problem. I miss my Nissan Quest which had an awesome system.

I went to J cradles and found my boats more solid with the narrow spacing and bow/stern tie downs.

I have a Ford Excursion and with two poly boats the rack is caving / bowing the roof. Rack is also to tight to the painted surface even with nothing on it.