Just like every other rack made by Yakima, the Hull Raiser feels like a quality piece of work. The rack comes with the straps where the buckles are enclosed into the rubber housing that feel soft enough to protect even the most delicate wooden hull. This rack keeps the kayak in the vertical position, on its side, which the preferred way of transporting and storing the larger kayaks, according to the kayak manufacturers. You have to be aware though that such position adds significantly to the overall height of your vehicle. It also makes loading the kayak on the rack a bit of a challenge if you have a tall vehicle. For example, we use Hull Raiser to secure our 90lb+ Current Designs Libra XT, perhaps the largest double kayak on the market, on top of our Isuzu Trooper SUV. After a few initial nearly-fiasco attempts we decided to use a three-step ladder, which made the loading much easier. If your vehicle has wide enough roof to spread the bars apart, you don’t even need the bow/stern straps; the kayak feels very secure. All in all, I highly recommend this rack, especially if you have a double kayak.