how to car-top a Birder 2?

[JeffM]

Resumed work on the kayak a few weeks ago, and now planning on a christening in a few weeks or so.  Got me thinking: 15'10" skinny lightweight boat is going on top of a minivan of same length that has a roof rack only about 3 feet or so long.  How can I do this?  I am assuming a homemade rig (maybe modified from the one I use for my Piccup Pram) that cradles the boat upright (to protect coaming).  But with enormous overhang on each end, I worry about twisting forces of crosswinds, passing trucks, etc.  The driving will be minimum half-hour on the highway.  What do others do?

[ChrisObee]

A rope to the bow and secure the middle.  We use a couple of cargo straps in the middle.  the rope to the bow keeps the bow from getting blown off center.  When I packed a canoe I always used two ropes one to each corner of my front bumper but with the lighter kayak that does not seem to be needed.   

[Rod Thompson]

One option is to purchase foam supports that sit on the roof and under the kayak.  Keeping sand and gravel bits from the undersides of the foam saves the roof paint.  Got mine at Mountain Equipment Co-op.  I find that tie-downs, 2 at the bow and 2 at the stern, help with prairie cross winds.

[John Burritt]

I have heard Designer vividly describe the disadvantages of not securing a car-top tie fore & aft.  It apparently provided some good abrasion testing (w/ positive results), although I don't thnk that was the plan.

[JeffM]

Um...Thanks, all.  Food for thought.  I'd actually considered some sort of light-weight A-frame from the front bumper to the bow, or maybe ties to the stern from a hitch-mounted bike rack that's gathering dust in the garage.  I definitely think there'll be some kind of connection to bow or stern or likely both.