Strapping Kayak To Roof Bars

This video will show you how to secure your kayak to a j bar roof rack carrier.

Strapping kayak to roof bars.

As a new kayaker it can feel like there s a lot to learn and a lot of accessories to get your hands on. Flip your kayak over so the cockpit is facing down and with one person on each end lift the kayak onto your vehicle s roof so that the center of the kayak is resting on the central pool noodle. Do check your roofrack is securely fitted. Bring the straps over the kayak or canoe.

These racks a super easy to install and use an. Once the boat is on the roof of the car and the straps are around the bars pull the straps over the canoe or kayak to the other side of the roof rack to avoid car damage or even a broken window. Run 2 boat straps over the top of the kayak and them under the roof rack bars then bring the straps to the other side of the kayak and loop them under the roof rack bars on that side. Do use some pads between your kayak and bars not necessary if you have wingbars with rubber strips.

We see people attach kayaks all the time the wrong way using these systems on. In this video we demonstrate how to load and tie down a kayak with the malone j style downloader kayak rack. Check your manufacturer s instructions for details on your kayak. Read more how to strap a kayak to a roof rack.

Read our article on how to choose a cartop boat mount. Especially if you have uprights on your bars cross tensioning them towards each other puts a huge strain on the roof rack attachment points and has on at least one occasion pulled bars clean off a roof. Kayak roof rack step 3. But after buying the best kayak for your needs and getting a compatible roof rack you ll need to know how to strap a kayak to a roof rack.

Always use two straps one for each roof bar. Transporting your kayak safely. Do check your straps for wear and tear and replace when necessary they won t last forever. Specific kayak rack systems that attach to the crossbars and cradle the boat in j or v shaped forms are most secure.

Tie down kayak with straps. You ll need two straps that are about 12 feet long or longer. To tie down a kayak place it right side up on your roof rack and center it. Do use high quality straps to secure your canoe kayak to the roof rack.

Note that some types of larger kayaks should not be used with roof racks. Cam straps quickly and securely hold your kayak down.