How to Transport Kayaks : Best Transporting Kayak Methods

Now you either have your new kayak, which you may have purchased, or you are on a rental from an outfitter; this part is very important as you must learn how to transport kayaks in a way that you won’t end up damaging your boat or at the same time scratching your car.

When loading your kayak, you want to make sure that you have installed equipment that will not require you to spend a lot of money; although some pieces of equipment are essential, and depending on the size of the boat and its weight, some may work for you better than others.

This means that unless you live in a neighbourhood close to a river, a lake, or the sea, you may need to transport the kayak using a car. In the two decades I’ve been kayaking, I have only once been able to afford to live within walking distance from the sea when my kayak could be wheeled to the water’s edge on a cart at the end of the garden path.

This is rare, and even if you disembark right next to the water body or river, your desire for the wild experience will get the best of you, and you will paddle off to explore the unknown waters.

Roof Racks

Carriers, particularly roof racks, are essential when transporting your kayak on top of your car. I once saw individuals who owned no racks trying to secure the kayaks to the car roof with the help of a blow-up mattress or foam pad as protection, and I do not think it was a good idea. This method can also cause significant harm as far as your car and boat are concerned if you have to move them a short distance.

Assuming that you do not have the rack and are looking at the options for building the rack at a minimum cost, In that case, some great sports racks attach to your car that are available out there, some of which are compact inflatable ones and are mounted on the roof also come with straps like the HandiRack Universal Inflatable Soft Roof Rack Bars.

These are quite useful in an extension that allows you to drive your kayak to the nearby local beach or water body. However, if I am riding my eighteen-foot, sixty-five-pound sea kayak for a longer and more distant trip or if I am going at an increased speed on the highway, I want to make sure that both – the kayak and the rack – are well secured to my car.

Another company that offers a vast range of roof racks and accessories is Thule – a globally respected brand. In fact, they offer all but the kitchen sink when it comes to safely getting your boat from point A to point B. Thule can take the muscle work out of positioning your kayak on top of your car with side loading, such as with the Hullavator Pro Rooftop Kayak Carrier, to make this even easier. The thousands of dollars are not required to get the boats on the water, and the activity is associated with this.

Yakima, Rhino, Malone, TMS, and Inflatobrand manufacturers like HandiRack, Tirol, and Stanley are ample brands available in the market that make transporting your kayak easy and inexpensive.

Truck Bed

A pickup truck is, hands down, the most convenient means of kayak transportation, and if you drive one, you’re in luck

No alterations must be made to your car/Chevrolet Tahoe to transform it into a kayak carrier; no extra towing equipment is needed. Kayaks are rigid and long-shaped vessels, so they can fit in the back of your truck as they are with some trucks, allowing two or more kayaks to be conveyed in this manner.

Open the tailgate, place the kayak on it, and anchor – using the rubber straps by running them through the handles and around the truck bed, which will suffice – and you are good to go.

I said it would be as simple as push and pull and really easy, right?

You have two options when using the truck bed: One way to keep the kayak is to place it with its bottom touching the SUV bed, while the other is to lift the end of the kayak and lock the tailgate, which rests on it. Either way is permissible. The choice largely depends on the length of the ‘yak, but if the overhang is significant, add the red flag for visibility.

Just ensure that you properly secure your kayak on the rack by tying it appropriately in the truck bed – wouldn’t want it to fly off the back and end up in an accident with other vehicles.

The upside of transporting kayaks on a roof rack system is that it keeps your boat up on top of your car and out of the way. Still, it’s not without its issues: The upside of transporting kayaks on a roof rack system is that it keeps your boat up on top of your car and out of the way, but it’s not without its issues:

Unfortunately, not all cars come from the factory with roof racks included, so to have a set that fits, you will need to do some serious soldering on the roof of your car. Furthermore, if your car is small, extra kayak stability will be a problem.

I am not trying to tell you that roof rack kayak transportation is a completely foolish endeavor. Well, it is – and that is perhaps the most popular of all the various approaches one could consider.

But before we move on to reviewing whether this method is suitable for you, it is necessary to describe how roof racks, both as factory-installed and as aftermarket additions, work.

The two critical pieces of hardware you’ll need for the up-on-the-roof approach are: The two critical pieces of hardware you’ll need for the up-on-the-roof approach are:

Side Rails – Two metal bars that run along the length of your car’s roof on each side

Crossbars – A set of railings that run across the width of your car’s roof and typically attach to the existing side rails

These two act as the base of your kayak-hauling system, allowing you to fit additional rack accessories to secure the boat during transportation.

Here are the three most popular options:

• J-Style Racks –J-cradles, which got their name from the J-shape design, are the most popular kayak roof racks. J-style kayak racks are side-loading, meaning they support the boat at a 45-degree angle.
• Saddles –These padded platforms extend from the roof rack and support the hull’s bottom, allowing you to transport the kayak horizontally. You can also replace the rear saddles with rollers to make loading easier.
• Stackers – Stackers act as vertical kayak racks designed to arrange your kayaks – yes, more than one – in an upright position. The kayaks sit on their side rather than flat, making stackers a more space-efficient solution.

If your car is not compatible with an installation of an after-market kayak roof rack system, or perhaps you do not wish to install a rack permanently on your car, or for instance, if you are merely in need of a cheap though efficient way of transporting your kayak, then you need not worry – for we have a splendid tip on how to transport the kayak without the roof rack.

There are; some pool noodles or foam blocks and a ratchet strap set

Our step-by-step instructions are: How to Transport a Kayak Without a Roof Rack?

Before we go on, just one last tip if you happen to live in the United States of America, I suggest you consult your state’s DMV to see whether a roof rack is legal for your particular type of car.

Straps

You don’t have to spend much on straps, but it is also not where you want to cut your losses. This is where you will also want to buy a strong thick nylon webbing strap to fasten your kayak onto your roof rack.

The webbing should have a cam buckle by feeding the strap and can only be shut to lock when closed throughout the process. This buckle works in such a way that you want to make a clamp on the strap at the point where you require it, and by doing so, the buckle is going to do the job of pulling down and tightening the strap independently, even without the need of the user opening the buckle.

The straps are available in different brands, namely Thule, and the premium straps found in the market will have a rubber casing or protective sheath around the buckle to prevent scratches and damaging your kayak. This is a very convincing argument that this is worth doing. If you don’t have a tall stature like me, you will be pulling the straps over the top of your boat from the other side of the car. Thus, the rubber casings safeguard your boat and the car windows from scratches or cracks in an accident.

Strapping your Kayak to your Roof Rack

Quite simply, the way to strap your boat to the roof rack is by slipping the strap under the crossbar in the middle of the car and then by reaching out for the straps or tossing them towards the car’s doors to grab the two other ends of the strap.

When you are done with the position of the straps across your deck, you want to have the buckle at the halfway point of the deck if the boat is tilted on its sides or at the halfway point between the deck and the hull if it is vertically positioned. The end of the strap can be passed over the non-adjustable crossbar ahead of the side rail before passing the end through the buckle.

One more thing that you should prevent from doing is placing the straps over the cockpit as it creates tension with the coaming around the cockpit where the spray skirt sits. This is especially vital for those made of fibreglass or Kevlar since the tensions on the surface can sometimes lead to a crack.

After you have tightened the strap to its last possible end, you will grab this end and pull it till the boat is firm and does not move or turn in circles. Ensure you do not pull down the straps as hard as possible to avoid exerting additional forces on the boat, which it may not be prepared to handle. Regarding the control mechanism, consider the kayak of your forearm or thigh. The strap or the belt has to be fairly fitted and not loose when dancing, but it should not cause discomfort, such as constricting blood flow.

To enhance the safety of the straps, ensure that you always fasten the straps around the crossbar, and for the open rooftop cars, you should also fasten the strap on the side rail of the roof rack. It is worth noting that if you only connect the strap to the J Bars or the cradle alone, you may have no cradle or kayak to speak of.

Ideally, you should cut your straps to around nine feet long because some lengths should be used to wrap the strap around the tension,, which will lessen slightly with each subsequent use, even if driven moderately. In the same way, you should always carry a spare strap in the car or your boat, just in case.

Bow and Stern Straps

You may want to secure the front or rear if you use longer boats that reach past your windshield and your rear window, such as tandem, sea kayaks, or surf skis. Straps such as the Sentry Ratchet Kayak and Canoe Bow and Stern Tie Downs may need to be tailored with a hook on the one end that may hook to the part of the vehicle such as the tow hooks or the chain loop in the hitch of a car.

It has a ratched pulley system making it easier in that no knots are to be tied on these straps. The rope is also desired for the bow and stern lines, as nylon webbing wobbles and produces sound when one drives a car.

If you do not have an anchor on your vehicle to tie the bow and stern line to, you can use a simple and simple type like the Shoreline Marine Hood Trunk Tie Down Loops, available online, that anchors under your hood and tailgate with the bowline hanging from the trunk.

Kayak Trailers

The other option for a roof rack is a trailer where you can tow your kayak behind your car with a hitch facility. Employment of kayak trailers is very advisable if you must move over two kayaks simultaneously and have the tow bar system in your automobile.

The details of the trailer also vary depending on the kayaks involved, and the amount and size of these kayaks will make it easy to find what you need.

Tying your kayaks to a trailer resembles how you tie down your boat on top of your car ridges. This is to provide a surface on which to place the kayak. You’ll require a cradle or padding or the kayak and two nylon straps to fasten the boat to the trailer rack.

Trailers are useful whenever you are travelling with several kayaks and a variety of equipment such as bicycles or another boat, for instance, a canoe; in addition, using a trailer is so much easier than lifting your kayak onto the roof of your car.

Kayak Wheels (But Only For Walking Distances)

I must mention the Kayak wheels as one of those useful tools that every kayaker should own even when they are far from water. Often times when carrying your kayak on the rooftop of your car, you cannot park at a spot closest to where the water is. This is why wheels are crucial, especially for paddlers who are alone and hence will not have someone assist them in transferring the canoe from the car to where they will launch the same canoe.

Wheels can also be very useful, especially when transferring the boat to another form of transport, such as a ferry. I have traveled ‘round the coast of BC, Canada several times, and I always roll my fully loaded sea kayak on wheels onto the ferry outside the car fee.

How To Load A Kayak Onto A Roof Rack (With Or Without Help)

As a result, how to carry or lift, and load the kayak is one of the most frequent questions that affect most new participants. You realize that heavy lifting – before and after each paddling session – is part of the deal, and doubt starts creeping in

What’s more, will I be able to carry it single-handedly? Self-explanatory: How can I load it onto the roof rack without assistance?

Well, of course, it has to look incredibly implausible at first; however, if you take the time and consider the proper loading methods, you will succeed.

I will describe two methods of loading and securing a kayak on the vehicle roof rack – with the help of someone else and with the help of nothing but yourself; therefore, continue reading!

If You’re Sharing The Load With Someone: Easy-Peasy

The good news is that if they are working closely together, they shouldn’t be short on help, which could make things much easier. You know what they say:

Together, Everyone Achieves More or TEAM can also be used to explain that no dream is so grand that it cannot be accomplished through cooperation.

Two sets of hands are always better, whether short or long disciplinary work or the summer is over, and it’s time to transport your kayak.

Here’s a quick guide on how to do it:

• Carry the kayak to your vehicle; you and your paddling partner should grab the handle on each end to share the load.
• Position the kayak next to – and parallel – to your car, with the bow turned toward the front.
• Grab the boat at each end, but this time, don’t grab the handles; hold it by the hull instead.
• On a count of three, lift the kayak overhead. Never lift with your back to avoid injury, and let your legs do the work.
• Gently slide the kayak down on the roof rack simultaneously, or try resting one end on it and pivoting the other into place, depending on the type of frame installed.

If You’re Doing It By Yourself: Tricky, But Doable

Kayaking can be done in the company of friends and families, or one can also go kayaking alone at a time. I am moderately both, which means I needed to know how to load my kayak on the roof rack well, even when there are no people to assist.

If you’re anything like me, listen up – here’s how to load a kayak by yourself:

• Bring your kayak behind your car and turn it bottom-side down. Loading it upside-down could help minimize hull deformation during transport, but not all kayaks will fit the roof rack that way.
• If you’re worried about scratches and dents, now would be an excellent time to add protective padding to areas where the kayak might contact your car. An old towel or blanket will do.
• Raise and lift your kayak’s front end (the bow) to rest on the rear crossbar.
• Pick up the other end (the stern) off the ground, pushing up and forward to slide onto the roof rack.
• Unless you’re transporting more than one kayak or other gear on the roof, centre it on your car’s roof rack.

Not all individuals have the muscles to do this without assistance or prefer not to lift a lot of weight independently.

Either way, a lift-assisted system is worth considering:

The load-bearing also belongs to the crafted roof rack, which can be collapsed down to your car’s side when needed. The load-assist is with an extension that enables the kayak to be lifted only to a height of three feet. The system then operates as a hydraulically activated ramp that makes loading the boat easier.

Final Words on How to Transport Kayaks

If you don’t own a roof rack or trailer, you might just consider a folding or inflatable type that may be stored in the boot of a vehicle.

I, for one, always felt that transporting your kayak should never hinder making it to the water to kayak. As with anything, you get the equipment and start to feel comfortable reading: competent, then you are only limited by your imagination as to where you might go.