Malone Auto Racks Malone SeaWing Stinger Combo w/Bow & Stern Lines

I am a 37 year-old, 5’3” woman, and I bought the Malone SS Combo (SeaWing/Stinger Combo) in May 2016 from amazon.com for $197.95. I have only used it twice and it works well for my car and kayak.My car and kayak:2011 Honda Odyssey Minivan with roof rails and crossbars installed by my local Honda DealerPerception Tribe 13.5 tandem kayak (Length 13.5’/Width 33.75”/Height 17”/Weight 67 lbs)In addition to the SeaWing/Stinger Combo, I also purchased the Thule 854 Water Slide Kayak Carrier Accessory Mat from amazon.com for $39.99.My kayak is very wide, and the red straps that came with the SeaWing/Stinger Combo were not long enough. The first time I tried to strap the kayak to the carrier, I discovered the problem. I was able to buy two 1.25” X 16 ft ratchet-style straps at Home Depot for about $8 each. In my opinion, ratchet-style straps hold the kayak more securely than the straps Malone provided.I choose the Malone SS Combo because I needed a rooftop kayak carrier that could handle a very large kayak, and I did not want to buy a kayak trailer. I need my hitch for my Thule 2 Platform Hitch Bike Rack. I am aware that there are trailers that can haul both bikes and kayaks, but they are too expensive for my budget. For $715 in total, I was able to buy the roof rails and crossbars, SS Combo, Water Slide, and 2 ratchet straps.I need a second person to help me load and unload my kayak on top of my minivan. But, I think I could figure out how to load it by myself.I also need both a step stool and a ladder to secure my boat to my minivan, even when I have a second person to help. I use the ladder to secure the straps thru the SeaWings and when attaching the bow and stern lines. I use the step stool when loading or unloading the boat.Comments and Advice:Be careful setting your boat on the back of your car so you do not crack your spoiler or scratch your paint. Buy the Thule Water Slide. It really helps. In a pinch, you could use a floor mat from your car or maybe a bath mat with a rubber (non-slip) bottom, but it may move when the kayak passes over it. The Thule Waterslide has velcro straps that secure it to the rear crossbar and prevent movement.If you have a big, heavy kayak like mine, make sure to put your strap under the crossbars on both sides of your kayak. This step is not pictured in the directions, but it is mentioned at end of the directions.Watch out for your car antenna when placing the nose of your kayak into the “stinger” piece. Even though my antenna is covered by the waterslide, I’m sure I could crush it if the kayak lands on it just right.The length of the stinger is not long enough to reach the top edge of the back of my minivan, but it is close and works great.Check your straps after rain and temperature change.As I secure my kayak with ratchet straps, my kayak pushes the seawings down. That seems to be normal.Definitely use bow and stern rope lines. The bow line seems especially important to keep the nose down.Watch YouTube videos (about 3 min each): Assembly - watch the video posted by rackwarehouse.com, loading - watch the video posted by orsracksdirect.comVery easy to assemble. It comes with 4 extra bolts (longer length, if needed), which I did not use. The kit comes with very good directions and has photos for each step. I read them, but the assembly video on youtube was more helpful.My crossbars are flat. There is a square notch in the seawings, but I did not use the notch. The SeaWings worked just fine with my crossbars/sat on top of them.The SeaWings are easy to remove and store. Keep the box and directions for storage and reference.I use the red straps that came in the kit to secure my ladder and step stool in the back of my minivan so they don’t shift while I’m driving.

First, this is a very sturdy universal kayak rack.Pros+ very easy to put together and install. About 10 minutes and you’re up and running+ the idea of the stinger attachment is fantastic. It really does help getting the kayak up+ the instructions are very well done+ it comes with different length mounting bolts, which is nice because every car is different+ it comes with all the straps you needCons- with this being a universal rack, some cars it doesn’t lay flush because where those cars put its cross bars. We have a RAV4, and the front crossbar slopes down. So the wings really don’t match up- it takes time to get the front wing and back wing lined up- another universal kayak issue, some kayaks just don’t sit flush in the wings very well. Make sure your straps holding the kayak down are tight- as much as I love the stinger, on a RAV4 where the crossbars are, the stinger doesn’t get anywhere close to the edge of the car. It still helps a lot, but don’t go by the picture, find the stinger extension measurements and look at you car.- the bolts holding everything together have to be tightened after every trip. They tend to loosen up based on the locations of the bolts and the t holding them in.Really like the rack, but with being universal , some cars just don’t get the real benefit from what it is.For the money, I just don’t see the real value of the stinger for the rav4. I could have just used a towel to help get the kayak up.

Works as expected. The winged nuts are a bit smaller than I would like, but they perform well. You do need to tighten them down well, however, hand-tightening works just fine. I have the extension resting on a section of our rear wind deflector and it seems to provide an extra bit of support. I have a 34" wide yak (Vibe Sea-ghost) and that's as wide as I would use with these wings. I do have to pay a bit of attention while loading the yak so it doesn't slide too far to one side or the other. Minimal effort though. The straps secure the yak well and there is zero movement. I do use an additional ratcheted strap for security, but that's due to highway travel. The wings do flex a bit so if using an additional strap you want to ensure you don't over torque things. Very easy to install and load/unload.

I bought the SeaWing/Stinger combo last year after using Thule glide and set racks. I like the SeaWing saddles a lot, and they're now standard for carrying two kayaks at once on my car.But the Stinger guide is just a disaster! Poorly designed, too narrow, and dangerous because my kayaks easily slip off the Stinger "assist guide" while loading and unloading. The cradle meant to guide the kayak is way too narrow and the plastic is slippery, so my Necky Manitou 14 (24" wide) with a normally rounded hull just rolls off the side of the car when I use the Stinger. I've now removed the Stinger (just a cheap plastic V shape guide) and things work well when I slide my boats directly onto the Malone saddles. I use a Thule Waterslide pad to protect the back of my Volvo XC-70 wagon.Save yourself some money, and just buy the Malone saddles. My Stinger attachment is now in the basement waiting to be thrown out. I'm always amazed how products like this that don't work reach the market. Did they try them loading real kayaks on a real car? I have three kayaks, and none of them are stable or safe being loaded with the Stinger attachment. And the Stinger guide is WAY overpriced.

Excellent piece of kit, really quick as well.Thank you guys, great job!

nice bit of kit for loading and securing kayak onto roof bars.

It works for my kayak but would be better with lighter smaller kayaks.

bonne achat

super!