How To Tie A Kayak To Your Roof Rack

A roof rack is ideal as it provides the most secure tie down.

How to tie a kayak to your roof rack.

Move the kayak forward or back on the roof rack as needed until the middle of the kayak is centered between the two roof rack bars. Read our article on how to choose a cartop boat mount. You don t want your kayak to be closer to one side of the car than the other. The first step in tying your canoe or kayak down to your car is laying the straps over each bar.

Of course you will want to make sure the buckles on the end of the straps don t scratch your car door. A short video showing just one way to securely tie a kayak to a roof rack. Once your kayak is in place on the roof of your vehicle open all the doors of your car. All you need is two bars that go across the car and a pair of cam straps when you.

Choose your carrier to carry your canoe on a roof rack you ll need a carrier designed for this use. Foam blocks and crossbar pads are economical options that protect your canoe. Once your car s doors and or windows are closed your straps should be secure through the inside of your car. Most include the necessary tie downs as well.

Follow the steps. Kayak roof rack step 1. If your vehicle has a roof rack you have one of the best situations for tying down a canoe. Lay the straps over the roof rack bars.

Inflatable racks inflatable roof racks require a slightly different tie down procedure than hard and soft racks as they do not have fastening points to loop the straps through. Soft kayak racks will have fastening points for you to loop tie down straps through. Specific kayak rack systems that attach to the crossbars and cradle the boat in j or v shaped forms are most secure. It also reduces the risk of damaging your vehicle.

If you don t have a roof rack there are still other options out there for you. Center your kayak on the roof rack. You ll need two straps that are about 12 feet long or longer. How to tie down a canoe to a roof rack.

Cam straps quickly and securely hold your kayak down. Then make sure the kayak is centered between the two sides of your car.