What are the advantages/disadvantages of these kayak tie-down techniques?

Question

I see some people carry kayaks strapped flat to the roof/roof rack while others put the kayaks on their sides. I have a standard SUV roof rack (not a kayak rack) and I am wondering which way I should secure my kayak. I use locking cam straps and have laid the kayak flat in the past, but I'm open to change if there is better way. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I've done both and there are a few advantages and disadvantages to both.

Flat- easyier to load, less of a profile for side winds to catch it, doesn't stand as tall (think drive thru)

On side- can load more boats, usually requires a special accessory which costs money, but keeps the boat further from your car, and protects the boat better.

I generally load mine flat, upside down and with the back facing forwards on the car..This lets me open my tailgate further up, but if I have it in the carrier (on it's side) the tailgate isn't an issue.  I would suggest a cockpit cover...it saves on gas, and then you can throw your wet gear into the kayak instead of storing it in your car.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

The carrying method can depend on the boat you have and what it is made of.  Plastic boats are a little more durable and can be handled a little more roughly than kevlar or fiberglass.  

However, if you're really tightening those cam straps down hard on a plastic boat - you run the risk of putting a permanent "oil can" dent in the hull, especially in hot sun.   Similarly, too much pressure on a kevlar or fiberglass boat can cause spider cracks in the gel coat finish.  

I frequently see Sit On Top (SOT) boats (no cockpit) carried upside down on surf board pads.   We have a plastic recreational kayak that we used to carry on kayak stackers - which is a straight bar that is intended for short whitewater boats.   The Stacker isn't intended for very long boats, but it's a handy way to put up to 4 boats on one roof for a portage run.

We have a Yakima Hull Raiser - a big sideways U shaped thing that we can use for my kevlar sea kayak.  All kayaks, especially long ones, are more rigid on their sides than on the hulls.   You want more support for that kind of boat.  We also have rollers and saddles for our plastic sea kayak.

A boat on it's side will push your car around in a high wind... but if the wind is really ripping, any boat (either flat or on it's side) can do that.  We've put two 17' sea kays (one on it's side, and one on saddles) on my Scion XB and driven 4 hours (LA to Vegas) without issues.  So, I wouldn't avoid a hull raiser if that's your worry.

Also, please look carefully at the cross bars on your factory rack.  When the boat is up there, do the racks flex or bounce quite a bit?  Keep in mind that the factory cross bars, especially sliding ones, have bounced and fallen out of the tracks of the side bars at high speeds when something big like a kayak or long surfboard are on top.  If you're unsure of your cross bars, many people mount Yakima, Thule, or Saris crossbars to their existing factory side bars.  Looks goofy, but it is safer.  You may want to ask a dealer to look at them for you just to be sure.

Good luck!

Answer 3

they probably had experienced rain fill to keep on side i turn mine upside down you can make pads out of packing styrofome or boat cusions and locking cams are conveneant

Answer 4

Buy Thule J racks.  They are the best for a factory roof rack.