How to tie down your kayak or SUP to your roof rack

ADVERTISING

LuxoGear Emergency Whistles with Lanyard

Shop now »

NOCO Genius GEN5X2, 2-Bank, 10A (5A/Bank) Smart Marine Battery Charger

Shop now »

RHINO USA Boat Trailer Transom Straps (2PK)

Shop now »

LUCKY Kayak Portable Fish Depth Finder

Shop now »

Seaview 180 V3 Full Face Snorkel Mask

Shop now »

Most popular comments
for How to tie down your kayak or SUP to your roof rack

Live comments
Comments on YouTube

Mike Kingsley - 5 years ago

Nice video overall.

Does BiC endorse using the leach attachment as a tiedown? That's not what our shop recommends, and it could lead to serious damage to the board (let alone the people driving behind you).

Nelson Soares - 5 years ago

What strap do you use it?
The one I have keeps getting loose.

skunk1955 - 5 years ago

Why can't you tie your bow line to the crossbar ? And the rear line to the rear crossbar ?

Rob Lettau - 5 years ago

skunk1955 cause it defeats the purpose of the now line then. If your roof rack fails you lose everything

Wes Smith - 5 years ago

Great Video. What brand of mounts are those that are attached to the car itself?

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - 5 years ago

Yakima

Jenne Siltberg - 5 years ago

Great video for a long kayak. How about a 10' otter for someone 5'2" tall solo? On a new suv

Mike Kingsley - 5 years ago

The length of the kayak doesn't matter. If you're having trouble getting the boat onto the roof, Yakima (and their competition) makes several lift-assist products. Check out your local specialty retailer.

Annie Pantoja - 5 years ago

I have a 2018 Hyundai Elantra Limited. I was told by a Yakima authorized dealer that it wasn't safe for me to use any rack on my car. My car is about the same size as that Prius. Any thoughts?

Mike Kingsley - 5 years ago

I own a shop that's a Yakima authorized dealer. PM me with questions/answers re: the following if you want.

Is yours an Elantra 4-door, or GT 5-door? Yakima has fits for these vehicles that will accommodate paddlesports. They do not have a fit (yet) for the model with the panoramic roof.

William Tolbirt - 5 years ago

Twisting the straps is going to drive me crazy (OCD).

Mike Kingsley - 5 years ago

So will the noise, if you don't. :D

Jesse Delaney - 5 years ago

VERY good video and presentation. Well done.

Jonathan Bright - 5 years ago

I can attest to the importance of a bow line, especially at highway speeds. The first time I got my kayaks, we mounted them on J racks on the roof, and it was my first time tying down kayaks, so it was a learning experience. My car had a tow hook on the right side of the front bumper that we attached the bow lines to, and we had a problem. Because it was off to the right, the right kayak wasn't really being held down once we got to the highway and high winds of Indiana and Illinois (couldn't tighten the tie down straps on the kayaks much more without a lot of flex in our new kayaks). Anyway, we hit the highway and the kayak wanted to shift in the j rack, and because the bow line was off to the right, there wasnt much support to keep the kayak from rotating and shifting. About an hour down the road and our kayak was visible from the passenger window. I had to think of something else. Turns out, my solution was to tie a rope between the front of both kayaks, and run a bow line from that to the tow hook, and another bow line from the driver side kayak to the tow hook, that way one kayak was being held down across the body of the car tight in the j rack, and the other was essentially held tight onto the first kayak. Since this, I haven't had any problems.

10. comment for How to tie down your kayak or SUP to your roof rack

Billy Smith - 5 years ago

Probably the best kayak roof rack mounting video made in human history.

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - 5 years ago

Thanks! Marcus is super knowledgeable

Jesse Delaney - 5 years ago

I agree, but I have to say some of the early videos by the Phoenicians, were very well done. Their use of bare-chested slave girls in their "Sailing Knots and You" series, was very creative.

T B - 5 years ago

Thanks so much! I think this is the simplest and clearest video I have seen on mounting a kayak on J cradles.

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - 5 years ago

Our kayak and paddleboard staff are extremely knowledgeable. They can usually troubleshoot even most odd situations.

JAMTGP - 5 years ago

Excellent video

wonsliqsunofabitch - 5 years ago

What cinch straps are those?

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - 5 years ago

Bill Jackson’s straps. 15’, 1” wide, spring loaded camlock buckle. Sold as pair.

mastrtonberry2 - 5 years ago

Letting the hook slam into the hood of her car

y a - 5 years ago

are cinch straps and lashing straps the same thing?

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - 5 years ago

Both are somewhat generic terms, the important thing is to use a strap that has a spring-loaded cam buckle at one end. Don’t use a strap with an open “S’ hook, or ratcheting mechanism. “S” hooks can bounce out of place. Ratcheting mechanisms can lead to over tightening causing crushing, cracking, and hull distortion.

Stephanie Booth - 6 years ago

This was the most helpful video! Would you mind providing which J Hook and straps that you use?

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - 6 years ago

Yakima JayLow with Yakima Load Straps (included in JayLow package). $189.00 + tax

Sue Easthom - 6 years ago

Awesome! Excellent video for kayak and SUP carrying newbies!! Love the time-saving tips, we’ll use them for sure! Well done!

LA5150 - 6 years ago

Need a separate video for the knots:)

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - 6 years ago

The greatest website for knots is grog's animatedknots.com. Everything you could want is there.

Daniel Ward - 6 years ago

Would have been more helpful to actually watch you do it. I'm a visual learner, and I think I see what you're doing but you have black straps in dark light.

20. comment for How to tie down your kayak or SUP to your roof rack

Sheila S - 6 years ago

This is the most useful video I've seen - and I've watched a bunch! Nervous about transporting my kayak for the first time on the freeway and this makes me feel a little better!

Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure - 6 years ago

Thanks Sheila. Marcus is a fountain of kayak and paddleboard knowledge. If you follow his tie-down technique, you'll be fine and can drive with confidence. Have fun on your adventure.

jlmcgrot - 6 years ago

Can't you pre-lay the straps the same way on a non-folding hook? You said it doesn't matter if it falls, so i maybe I'm missing something.

Rick Johnson - 6 years ago

Thanks, Marcus! I wish I had checked out this video BEFORE I fought with my kayaks today...

About How to tie down your kayak or SUP to your roof rack

The "How to tie down your kayak or SUP to your roof rack" video is part of the kayaking category, which contains similar videos like this one.