How to Tie a Sea Kayak on a Roof Rack

By tying your sea kayak to a roof rack securely and safely, you'll travel down the road worry free, ready for an adventure.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Lift the kayak onto the rack with the cockpit facing up and the bow of the boat over the hood of the vehicle. This is easier if you have a partner to help you.

2. Center the cockpit between the two bars of the rack.

3. Step away from the vehicle to see if the boat looks relatively centered over it. If it isn't you can move it a small amount either direction, but keep the cockpit between the bars of the roof rack.

4. Strap the kayak to the rack with heavy duty lash straps.

5. Secure the bow of the boat to the front bumper with a small length of rope. Do the same for the stern on the rear bumper.

6. Give the one of the ropes a pull back and forth to check the security of your rigging. Remember that the high winds of freeway travel can loosen a boat that isn't tied on well.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are traveling on a day that may be rainy, a cockpit cover is recommended to keep the boat dry. If you don't have a cover, you can tie the top of a spray skirt and snap it on to do the same job.
• When you need to tie your paddle to the rack as well as your kayak, tie them seperately so the boat remains secure.
• A sea kayak which is not attached to a vehicle properly could fall off and cause damage to the boat and other cars on the road. Double check your rigging before you hit the highway.

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[pablitohalito]

on 10/16/2007 "Step 4: Strap the kayak to the rack with heavy duty lash straps."
That's like saying "Next step:tie a knot" in a how-to article on tying shoes. How to attach straps correctly is the critical part that most people get wrong, and should be the meat of this article.