I have a Jackson Cuda that i car top on a Buick Enclave using typical J-bars and straps. I usually put the kayak up on Friday nights to use during the weekend. By Sunday the boat is bowed to the point where my seat won't fit in the given slots. It eventually levels out when i leave it on garage floor for a week. Am i continually doing damage? or weakening the molded plastic?  anyone else have this issue? .. although you all probably have trailers or sea wings by now...is this the only solution?.. trailer not really in the cards right now financially speaking. 

thanks for any replies

If you're just car topping a single boat, I recommend ditching the J cradles, wrapping the cross bars with foam like a pool noodle or pipe insulation, and gently, but firmly strapping the boat in right side up.  I'm not gonna berate Jacksons (I have a Coosa, as well a couple Wildys), but they have a tendency to do this.  I also notice the foam block meant to reinforce the tank well often slides out of position when stored on it's side, so check for that as well.

You leave the kayak on the rack for three days? 

If you do, I would suggest you don't. I know it's a pain but you need to take it down and store it right. 

When I car topped, the boat would be up there all summer, lol.

I've had my Wildy on the car more days than its been off since late April.   That said, it is rare that it spends more than three days straight strapped down, but has a couple/few times.  No ill effects that I can tell yet.

34 minutes ago, J Francho said:

If you're just car topping a single boat, I recommend ditching the J cradles, wrapping the cross bars with foam like a pool noodle or pipe insulation, and gently, but firmly strapping the boat in right side up.  I'm not gonna berate Jacksons (I have a Coosa, as well a couple Wildys), but they have a tendency to do this.  I also notice the foam block meant to reinforce the tank well often slides out of position when stored on it's side, so check for that as well.

that's a good point about the inside foam blocks shifting , i have noticed this in the past.  i bought my Cuda used and has 2 foam inner blocks that only seem to support top weight vertically. Am i missing a horizontal foam block for side support perhaps? .. can't find info on that from Jackson, and actually spoke to Jackson sales rep about it and they said "yea, when it's really hot out it happens in j cradles but will flatten when stored". Which it does, but it feels like i'm doing damage none the less. i'm probably just paranoid, but this boat needs to last me a while.  I have an OK Tetra 10 that i car top as well , hence the bars. Guess i'll just start saving for a trailer , but then i'm going to want a JB or something with a deck.... it never ends does it ..lol

Can you fit the Tetra in the J cradles, and the Jackson flat right next to it?  That's how I rolled with two boats, a SINK in the cradles, and my OK PBG flat next to it, on a Thule rack for my Nissan Maxima.

13 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Can you fit the Tetra in the J cradles, and the Jackson flat right next to it?  That's how I rolled with two boats, a SINK in the cradles, and my OK PBG flat next to it, on a Thule rack for my Nissan Maxima.

Not sure , i just assumed the Cuda was too wide for that. I will bust out the measuring tape and do the maths. 

i'm kinda new at this and that is a solid idea

thanks for the responses 

I don't know the first thing about kayaks, but, it seems to me that there should be preferred spots where the J cradles should be situated against the hull, where the hull is the strongest.  Too far apart, and it could sag in the middle.  Too close together, combined with a bow and stern tie downs could bend the ends of the yak downward.

 

Usually the the gunwales are the strongest part, at least on a SOT. I have A 11.5 Lure which sits on its side on a rack majority of the time in my garage, and it does dent the sides somewhat, but nothing a little sun can't fix. I will be redoing the rack this winter so the yak will rest on its gunwals instead of the sides.