Michael Daly wrote:

I tie the bow and stern lines to steel tie-down bits under the bumpers. I
have never had any damage to the paint.

Jeeze, all our our cars, past and present, have had the paint on the
front edge of the hood marred from ropes. And the seats are/were dirty
from shuttling wet paddlers and river dogs. And they have little dings
all over from following shuttle convoys on dirt roads. And they smelled
like funky neoprene and polypro.

I just didn't care. Still don't. I'm a paddler, they are paddler's
vehicles. It's a car, a truck, a van - not gramdms'a living room
furniture.

I do have a good laugh when someone new is concerned about getting in
one of my vehicles after a trip, saying "Well, I'm a little wet, should
I set on a towel or some thing".

Get in.