For what it's worth - I've always tied down canoes with rope and kayaks
with straps - don't ask me why!

Oh yeah, I replaced my Suburu racks with Yakimas. Don't listen to what
Yakima recommends for the length of your racks either - they recommend
the length that will go out to the edge of your roofline. You really
want to go roofline plus ~ 10 inches which will go out as far as your
sideview mirrors.