CX-5 kayak bow and stern lines

[batou_]

Hi,

We just got a 2014 CX-5 and will carry 2 kayaks on top. The plan is to get a couple sets of J carriers and carry them that way. (Any advice would be appreciated.) However my real question at this point is where to tie the bow and stern lines. I was exploring the underside of the car for anchor points and did not see any good spots. (We do not have a trailer hitch.) Can anyone with experience carrying kayaks on the CX-5 let me know their solutions to this potential problem? Thanks in advance.


-batou

 

[nizzy1115]

Not sure how helpful this is but there is a tow hook in the front bumper behind a plastic piece.

 

[miket66]

My uk spec Mazda came with long and short tow eyes they fit into covers on front and reat bumper I have got an additional long one so use two long ones thus ensuring ropes do not catch the paintwork used when roof bars have my 14.5 ft canoe loaded for my kayaks these are white water so short and not required, I use Thule roof rack as Mazda one has such a low load rating. I have the tow hitch as well but this is not very good for attaching ropes to.

 

[Jcanracer]

My uk spec Mazda came with long and short tow eyes they fit into covers on front and rear bumper I have got an additional long one so use two long ones thus ensuring ropes do not catch the paintwork used when roof bars have my 14.5 ft canoe loaded

Do you have pics of this? I think I should get something like this next time I have to carry a second Kayak.

 

[CCR76]

Batou,

I carry a single kayak and tie bow and stern lines to the tow eyes that came with the vehicle. You could just as easily tie multiple boats to them. They are stored in cutouts in the styrofoam deck in the spare tire well. They thread into sockets concealed under little round covers on the front and rear bumpers. The covers pop off, I use a small plastic pry tool which does not mar the bumper sheath. There is a long eye and a short eye, it will be clear by inspection which goes where.

The points are not centered but it doesn't matter. You don't want to crank down too hard on the bow and stern lines anyway, I view them more as safety straps to keep the boat from flying away rather than to crank the boat down securely to the car. That's what the middle straps or lines are for. On my previous vehicle I didn't even use bow and stern lines because there was no place to attach them. Never lost a boat.

You didn't ask but for the roof rack I use and recommend Yakima Landing Pads onto which you can attach tower-crossbar assemblies. I use the forward fixed mounting points front and rear, giving a spread of about 48". Once it's set up the crossbar-towers snap on and off the car in seconds. The Landing Pads stay on the car and don't look too bad.

Addendum--MikeT mentions the ropes catching the paintwork. Only an issue in front, where the rope can rub against the leading edge of the hood. My cheap solution is several layers of purple 3M painters tape (the least sticky kind) applied to the hood where the rope rubs, removed at the end of the trip. And on short trips I don't bother with the bow-stern lines.

 

[5-xc skirA]

Hi,

I am new to the forum, however I have been utilizing posts for a few months now (bought a CX-5 in December) to add upgrades and do some research. I installed my hitch and roof rails and I'm ready to do some fishing now that the ice is gone, but there is one catch...Kayak carriers. I found a few systems on Amazon because I didn't want to spring $160 for the OEM Yakima set, however I don't know if they will fit the OEM crossbars. Has anyone found a good/cheap set of carriers for kayaks the fit the OEM crossbars?


Thanks!

 

[CCR76]

If only carrying one boat it's hard to go wrong with contoured foam blocks, with slots cut in the bottom they fit any bar or rail.

 

[jhotovy]

I used Sherpack hood loops and Sherpack quick loops ordered from Amazon

Hi,

We just got a 2014 CX-5 and will carry 2 kayaks on top. The plan is to get a couple sets of J carriers and carry them that way. (Any advice would be appreciated.) However my real question at this point is where to tie the bow and stern lines. I was exploring the underside of the car for anchor points and did not see any good spots. (We do not have a trailer hitch.) Can anyone with experience carrying kayaks on the CX-5 let me know their solutions to this potential problem? Thanks in advance.


-batou

 

[vanwyk4257]

I use these to attach the tie bow/stern tie downs for my kayak and/or SUP and have no problems with rubbing on the paint: http://www.orsracksdirect.com/thule-530-quick-loop-strap.html

 

[deepfriedsushi]

How long is the kayak?

I have a 10ft one and don't use bow/stern lines.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123830663-Pics-10ft-Kayak-with-Thule-J-Style-rack-on-factory-roof-rack

Here's another link to the CX5 and transporting kayaks
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123827289-Kayaking-and-the-CX-5