Mapping the Sheltowee

chadudhy · cub Joined: 08 Jul 2010 Posts: 2

What are the advantages/disadvantages of these kayak tie-down techniques?
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?
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jbd · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 7:32 am Post subject:

I've seen kayaks tied down to the tops of vehicles in both ways. Most likley its a personal preference. As long as the kayak stays put, all is good IMO.

Ewker · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 7:52 am Post subject:

When I bought my kayak yrs ago I bought it as a package deal. It came with the foam pads that fit my roof rack. I haven't had any problems with carrying it that way even when I have had 3 kayaks tied face down on top of my Jeep Cherokee

BSF-Hiker · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 6:43 pm Post subject:

They can be laid flat if you just have a factory roof rack. They're usually put upside down to keep rain or whatever out of them while going down the road.

Thule and Yakima make a couple different vertical bars for their roof rack systems. One type is a vertical bar that allows them to be stacked on their side. It allow up to 4 kayaks (or more, if your roof is wide enough) to be safely tied down on the roof.

The other is a "cradle" type that attaches to the roof rack systems that puts the kayak at about a 45 degree angle. This would be the easier for one person to use, verses the 90 degree vertical bar.

Keep it tight enough to prevent movement, but not too tight to distort the boats shape against the bars.

PR · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 11:55 am Post subject:

I use a general purpose rack that I take on and off of my pu as needed. If the boats rest ok upside down, I prefer to run them that way. I think that boats with big open cockpits generate alot of wind drag, probably enough to affect mpg alittle. If you don't have cockpit covers, I'd run them upside down. I'm with BSFHiker; take care not to overtighten and malform your boats.

tonydaniel · cub Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 6 Location: Oak Hill WV

tieing down flat- puts more stress on the boat, make sure your float bags hold air well if you tie the boats down upside down, and remove all gear- throw rope, water bottles. Its the easiest to do and it's what I almost always do, I just carry them right side up and dump out rain water occasionally

on side- puts less stress on boats, you can shuttle more boats, but requires a stacker bar, and is harder to do but not by much

easiest-buy a short play or creek boat and transport in vehicle. but it makes your vehicle smell funky