The Thule 881 -Top Deck is a great choice for those who want an economically priced set of cradles to transport a kayak or paddleboard safetly.  The saddles support the kayak or paddleboard up off the load bars and have rubber surfaces to grip the hull.  The saddles are easy to install and adjust to the width of kayaks up to 36 inches and paddleboards up to 34 inches.  This set comes with everything needed to transport one kayak or two paddleboards stacked on most types of cross bars.

What's included
The mounting hardward included with the saddles have a set of short and a set of long carriage bolts for thin or thick bars.  Two heavy duty 15 foot nylon straps are included for securing the kayak to the cross bars.  The straps have strong metal cam buckles.  Because it's so important tie down the front and rear of a kayak, Thule includes the bow and stern tie down with every kayak carrier to encourage their use.  Never under estimate the power of the wind's lifting force on long loads such as kayaks.

Upgrade Options
Thule offers several more products worth exploring.  For those with Thule standard bars the Outrigger II will help when side loading.  Even when you have rear load assist, tight parking situations may not allow rear loading, that's when it would be nice to have a side assist option.  The Roll Model takes the the Glide and Set and adds a roller that extends beyond the Thule standard bar 7 inches and gives that added boost when loading.  The Slipstream is a clever frame work which is great for long boats on short cross bar spreads.  The Slipstream slides back like a drawer to assist in rear loading.  The Hullavator is a side loading super assist, it will lower the lift height by 40 inches and you only need a couple of fingers to lift the kayak thanks to gas-assist shocks.  Finally, at the other end of the spectrum of technology is the Water Slide and it doesn't' get any simpler than this.  The Water Slide is a mat with a smooth and a non-skid side to protect a vehicle while loading or unloading.

Product Technical Information