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This top-of-car mount folds down when it's not in use for better aerodynamics, and gives you easier access to the garage. Thanks to the integrated boat ramp, it's painless to load, too. The ginormous knob is easy to twiddle, even if you've got butterfingers. And top-of-the-line HullGuard™ padding uses EVA foam for improved boat protection. So everybody please bow down to the supreme glory of the BowDown.
J-Cradle design for carrying a single touring, recreational or whitewater kayak
New SteelCore™ construction utilizes a steel substrate encased in durable foam padding
Folds down flat when not in use for the ultimate in rooftop clearance
Integrated ramp system assists in loading your boat Hullguard™ pads protect and keep your boat looking brand new
Locks to crossbar with SKS locking system (lock cores sold separately)
Includes 1 pair of Heavy Duty Straps, with padded buckles
Includes Bow/Stern Tie-Down Straps to complete kayak stability
Integrated bottle opener
Fits round, square and most factory crossbars out of the box
The convenience of a stacker without having to remove it in the off season. Yakima's BowDown carries one boat on padded "J" cradles and then folds down to provide a clean silhouette. The BowDown carries one boat on its side, on top of the vehicle. When you're not using it, fold it down to keep a nice clean look to vehicle and reduce wind whistle. Padded hull guards prevent damage to your boat. Fits round, square, and most factory crossbars out of the box (fit list on carton). Locks to crossbar using SKS locking system (lock cores sold separately). The BowDown comes with heavy duty straps to secure your boat.
The convenience of a stacker without having to remove it in the off season. Yakima's BowDown carries one boat on padded "J" cradles and then folds down to provide a clean silhouette.
Taking J-cradles to the next level, the Yakima Bowdown has all the features you've been looking for in a kayak rack!
The Yakima BowDown Boat Rack securely holds your whitewater or sea kayak for a trip to the put-in, and then it folds down to increase aerodynamics when you're not shuttling a boat. It sure will be nice to pull into your garage without worrying about snapping off your boat rack. The BowDown Boat Rack's steel-core frame provides plenty of strength and durability while the HullGuard EVA padding keeps your boat from getting wrecked. Yakima added a pair of heavy duty straps with padded buckles. This rack even has an integrated bottle opener for celebrations at the takeout.
Bowdown is Yakima's premium kayak carrier. Packed with high-end features to securely carry your touring, recreational, or whitewater kayak.
| Attachment: | Round, Square and some factory crossbars |
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| Compatibility: | Round, square, & factory bars |
| Locking: | Yes, with SKS lock cores (sold seperately) |
| Locks Included: | No, sold separately |
| Manufacturer Warranty: | 1 Year |
| Max Load: | 1 Kayak |
| Recommended Use: | Traveling with your kayak |
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View other products from Yakima classified in Kayaks & Boating > Car Racks. View all products from Yakima.
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Sometimes, we can't be sure that the product is the same across the stores that offer its, so you may find the same product listed more then once on GearBuyer.com, we these list highly similar products below.
 | Yakima Bowdown Kayak Rack | $179.00 |
 | Yakima BowStern Tiedown | $30.00 - $39.00 |
This product is available in the following colors:
Click any color to show the product in that color
 | Black / Silver |  | Black/ Silver |
 |  |  |
| Yakima BigStack | Yakima Showboat | Yakima HullRaiser |
 |  |  |
| Yakima Viper Bike Rack | Yakima Mako Kayak Saddles - Pair | Thule Roll Model Kayak Rack |
Use this chart to find which retailer offers this product in the size, color or other options that you desire. Click on the price to purchase.
| Color | Size | |
|---|---|---|
| Folding Car Mount | N/A | |
| Black / Silver | 143.20 | |
| Black/ Silver | 179.00 | |
| N/A | 169.00 | |
Backcountry.com offers this product at $179.00, but does not provide any color/size information.
REI offers this product at $179.00, but does not provide any color/size information.
Mountains Plus Outdoor Gear offers this product at $179.00, but does not provide any color/size information.
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Simple, solid solution for factory racks | |
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| Installed 2 pairs on my Ford Escape very easily and I can get into my tiny garage with no problem. Boats load easily, straps/ties are intuitive to use, and running down the highway I felt everything was very stable and secure. Instructions provided are clear but you hardly need them. Double-check the box when you buy; it says online that bow/stern lines are sold separately but I could swear mine purchased in May 08 included hull straps for each cradle plus the bow/stern lines. Check before spending more anyway...maybe this is a new development. Also, I bought the Yakima cable lock system and the SRS locks for each BowDown cradle, securing them to the crossbar. If you do this, make sure you get the same key numbers for all of these and plan ahead for other Yakima products you may buy. One key for all things Yakima...no fumbling for the right one later! | |
| JMS in Michigan at REI on 06/24/2008 | |
Works so well I bought another | |
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| I installed this on my Honda Odyssey's factory rails in the REI parking lot so I could carry my new kayak home. It was quite easy to do, and I was immediately pleased. After loading and unloading the kayak a couple more times, I decided to purchase another Bow Down. I is not "rock solid" but I attribute that to my factory racks rather than anything Yakima did/didn't do. The design has the bottom of the "J" protruding a little from the rack, making loading easier. The material is kind to the hull. The fold down feature is great, and I have not had problems as mentioned by another reviewer. 5 stars implies "perfect" and I am not sure I would call this perfect, but I cannot think of any reason to knock a full star off the rating - so 5 stars it is. | |
| BillyRay at REI on 05/02/2009 | |
Works perfectly on 2001 Nissan Xterra | |
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I bought 2 sets for my 2001 Xterra, and they fit perfectly on the factory crossbars right out of the box. No need to purchase longer bolts. The included bolts are just long enough, and I had to squeeze the brackets together to get the bolts started, but then it's not a problem. When folded, I can still enter my 7' garage door with plenty of clearance. With the built-in ramps, I can easily load my 12' Old Town Dirigo by myself, and the racks position two kayaks perfectly and hold them securely. The included straps are very good, too. The entire system seems to be very rugged and a lot of attention obviously went into the details of the design. My only complaint, though minor, is that the racks whistle a little bit driving down the highway while folded and empty. Overall, this is a great product! | |
| gmilton288555 at Backcountry.com on 08/05/2008 | |
Good product | |
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| i first put them on my factory rack on my fj cruiser. they weren't rock solid b/c of my factory rack. i installed the yakima racks and they are much better. there is a whistle at high speeds in lay-down position but it isn't that bad. overall it's a pretty good product. | |
| Creek_Addict at REI on 10/21/2009 | |
not right for me | |
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| After minimal use during attempted install, one of the J's would no longer lock into position. The screw assembly used for the turn knob must have stripped inside the unit. Also, I had great difficulty trying to install the Bowdown on my factory rack. The manual requires that it be in the vertical position when you set your kayak on it. However, the alligator style clamp to attach the unit to the factory rack only tightens on one side. This results in the assembly slowly tilting as you tighten it. The auto-shift waffle blocks help some, but not nearly enough. It was very frustrating and time consuming to try to get this installed properly. | |
| LH at REI on 07/30/2008 | |
HUGE SCRATCH IN MY ROOF!! | |
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| I just used this rack today for the first time on my BRAND NEW Toyota Tacoma. While I was sliding the kayak onto my rack it fell [...]causing a pencil sized dent and a scratch all the way to the metal!!! I will be keeping the racks however because they are the best ones I can find that fold down and my truck is very high off the ground. If you buy these be VERY careful!! | |
| richardvg03 at REI on 05/23/2009 | |
Not a good buy for the price | |
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| After having to return the mounts several times because the parts were broken I am returning the whole set-up as the bolt to hold it in up-right position has stripped with the third use. Not worth the expense. The unit also whistles at 50MPH and higher when in fold-down position...and it is not a pleasant sound and can be heard above the radio/music. The kayaks stay put and the tie down process is relatively easy. | |
| Naneki-b at REI on 09/30/2008 | |
