How To Tie A Kayak To Your Roof Rack

Read our article on how to choose a cartop boat mount.

How to tie a kayak to your roof rack.

Of course you will want to make sure the buckles on the end of the straps don t scratch your car door. There are multiple styles of carriers available. Follow the steps. The first step in tying your canoe or kayak down to your car is laying the straps over each bar.

Make sure your kayak is still in the same position on your roof rack and that your straps are straight and in line with your roof rack. Cam straps quickly and securely hold your kayak down. It also reduces the risk of damaging your vehicle. Specific kayak rack systems that attach to the crossbars and cradle the boat in j or v shaped forms are most secure.

If your vehicle has a roof rack you have one of the best situations for tying down a canoe. You don t want your kayak to be closer to one side of the car than the other. How to tie down a canoe to a roof rack. Then make sure the kayak is centered between the two sides of your car.

A roof rack is ideal as it provides the most secure tie down. Center your kayak on the roof rack. Once your car s doors and or windows are closed your straps should be secure through the inside of your car. Once your kayak is in place on the roof of your vehicle open all the doors of your car.

You ll need two straps that are about 12 feet long or longer. A short video showing just one way to securely tie a kayak to a roof rack. Lay the straps over the roof rack bars. Tighten the straps by securing the buckles on each strap and wrapping and securing each loose end.

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. Kayak roof rack step 1. Foam blocks and crossbar pads are economical options that protect your canoe. 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.

Soft kayak racks will have fastening points for you to loop tie down straps through. Choose your carrier to carry your canoe on a roof rack you ll need a carrier designed for this use.