I need advice on how to correctly strap a kayak on top of car?

Question

I need advice on how to correctly strap a kayak on top of car?

Answer 1

You need at least one strap or tie down on the roof toward the rear of the kayak to prevent it from sliding side to side and a painter down to the front of the car to prevent it from swinging sideways at high speeds. You could add another painter at the back and another tie down on the roof. The front painter gets tied to the paddle when I am in the water. If you use straps that go through the cab of your vehicle, you will learn very quickly about water leaks when it rains.

You can use racks, or get the foam blocks (if you're a real redneck, an inner tube would be appropriate)

Answer 2

Well, it would be nice if you had kayak cradles for it.  Im guessing you dont.  1.  buy a pair of tie-down straps with clamps. 2 buy some 1/4" braided cotton rope, about 50 feet., (you'll use it all eventually)

so.  Get some old used blankets to act as a cushion between the boat and the car top.

If your kayak is short and pretty much flat on top around the combing, you can tie it down, upside down pressing the combing down into the blankes.  If you have a 4 door vehicle use the straps to secure the boat to top by passing the straps over the boat and through the open rear doors.  using about 25 feet of the 1/4" rope, tie the bow of the boat to teiether side of the front bumper.  do the same to the rear bumper. the ropes should form a Vee front and rear with knots at the boat.  Secure each rope end with a shipping or rigging knot. (you gotta look those up too)

and away you go.

Answer 3

I use a Yakima rack with four kayak saddles. The other option would be to have two rollers in the back and saddles in the back. Then I run two straps around the kayak and strap down the bow to the front of the truck. If the straps are tight, and will keep the boat from moving a stern strap is not necessary. Important to remember: don't strap it down so tight that you bend the boat or change its shape in anyway.