Getting started: Transporting Your Kayak

Fall 2007

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by Alex Matthews

Until you’ve done it often, transporting kayaks can be stressful. More specifically, it’s the job of securely tying boats to the roof of a vehicle that intimidates many. This concern is well justified because most serious damage to kayaks is incurred during transportation, not while paddling. But with the right setup, car-topping a kayak is both safe and easy.

Most important, and often dismissed, is the need for a strong, solidly attached set of roof racks. Unfortunately, factory-installed racks are seldom ideal. After-market racks from manufacturers like Yakima or Thule are the ultimate solution for hauling kayaks. They have racks to fit virtually any vehicle, as well as unique systems such as kayak rollers and cradles that do a great job of protecting your boat and make loading and tying kayaks easier.

If you are using simple bar racks, it’s a good idea to pad the racks with foam to save your kayak some scratches and wear. It’s also important to avoid contact between your kayak and your car’s roof while traveling. Because a boat will invariably move during transit (no matter how tightly it’s tied), if it’s in contact with your car, the result can be serious abrasion to the vehicle’s paint job. Likewise, when transporting several fiberglass kayaks, avoid direct contact between boats to prevent damage to gelcoat.

Although loading a kayak onto the roof of a vehicle can be accomplished by one strong person, it is much easier with two people—one at each end.

To tie your boat down, ropes work well enough, but cam straps are quicker and far more reliable for most folks. Regardless of which you use, securely tying a boat onto your roof racks is pretty easy. As long as you don’t strap it down at its widest point, but have a strap on each side of the cockpit, the tapered shape of a kayak will prevent the boat from sliding forward or backward. Don’t be afraid to aggressively tighten straps when securing plastic boats. The chances of hurting them are slim. With fiberglass or thermoformed kayaks, a much more delicate touch is needed. An added piece of insurance is to tie a bowline or stern line to your kayak, although you don’t want to tie them too tightly, as that will bend your boat along its length. The final touch is to securely stow any excess strap or rope ends to avoid excessive wind noise when driving.

Something to keep in mind is that a kayak left upright on your vehicle overnight can collect a surprising amount of rainwater, making it much heavier, and it will be best to drain the boat before driving off. Be careful when unloading boats containing water—not only are they very heavy, but you may also get soaked wrestling them off the roof.

On a final note, expect your tie job to loosen after driving for a while, especially on rough, backcountry roads or in wet conditions. Losing a kayak off the roof of your car is no laughing matter and can end in disaster, so take the time to pull over to double check that your kayak is secure.