I car topped my yak home yesterday using the Sparehand kayak saddles on my crossbars. Secured it using 2 ratchet straps running side to side. One towards the front, and one towards the back. No issues with any of that stuf. My question is the awful noise I had to hear while driving. It was just a loud constant noise. Almost like a high pitch harmonic. It's beyond annoying and gives me a headache. I can't deal with that at all. So I'm guessing it was from the air flowing across the straps. Could I wrap them in something, or anyone have any fixes for me?

I do not use the front or rear straps. I wrap the straps side to side over the yak and around the rack bars. I put the yak on foam covered bars. The tie downs pull the yak down into the foam and it will not slip due to this.

The noise is my concern. I can't deal with it. It's tied down well, and not moving.

Hehehehe...I totally know what you're talking about.Use to happen to me a lot(still does when I transport my 'toon). I use Yakima Stackers,so my yaks and canoes are transported on their sides, and there is very little strap exposed so no noise, other than that generated by having a boat on your roof. I believe the noise is generated by the strap over the open boat, kind of like a guitar string, not by the length of strap directly attached to your rack. Solution? Dampen the strap to kill the vibration. How? A towel? Pipe insulation? I just live with it, but I don't travel far(or too fast). Good luck.

*Please don't take offense to the little chuckle, I've just been there, and like I said, live with it now, when it happens, but I just recall how it would freak out some of my family or fishing partners...completely drive them nuts, and I would just crank the radio!

Twist your straps and that noise will go away.  

 

Also, I wouldn't use ratchet straps as they can put to much pressure on the yak and cause deformity over time.  I have used cam buckle straps for over 5 years with no issues.  I would also use bow and stern tie down straps on your kayak on that vehicle, i used to have the same one   The general rule of thumb is that if the distance between your two cross bars is less than 1/3 of the kayak you should be using the front and rear straps.  Yes, I know many don't and are ok but i have seen more than one instance where the rack itself gives way and the only thing holding everything together and from flying into traffic are the bow and stern tie downs, just some food for thought. 

Thanks for the tips. I didn't make the straps tight at all. Just snug enough to hold it in place. That was just to get it home. I plan on running the bow and stern straps. I can't use the J style holders because this exceeds their weight limit. I wanted to be safe and not sorry on that part.

Another thing to consider is traveling with the boat hull up.  Just think about if it is raining on the way to the lake or on the way home.  I know the scuppers will help to drain some of the water but it will get in through hatches etc...  I used J cradles for my one kayak for a while and then said screw that, and just went with the boat hull up on the factory racks that i padded with some pool noodles.   The J cradles turn your vehicle into a sail.  I would only use them on a trailer or in a situation where you need the additional room for multiple kayaks.

do you really need the Sparehand kayak saddles?  I'd take them off and turn the kayak upside down. and turn up the music  

I'm not too worried about it getting wet. I'm putting it in the water anyways. If it becomes an issue I'll flip it over. Thanks for the tip.

Do I need them? Probably not but I like the idea of using them. They keep it nice and snug with no movement. I've tried the music up thing and it doesn't help kill the awful sound I'm talking about.

Twist the straps and that should dampen the harmonics.