How to Strap a Kayak to a Roof Rack

Kayak roof strap
A kayak and a canoe are creatively strapped to the roof rack of a Honda Element. Photo © by George E. Sayour

Anyone who paddles a kayak or canoe must have a way to transport it to and from the water. Serious paddlers keep this in mind whenever they purchase a vehicle.

While canoe and kayak roof racks can be fitted to virtually any type of car, truck, or SUV, some manufacturers make it easier than others. This step-by-step guide will describe how to secure a canoe or kayak to a factory-installed or aftermarket roof rack. When in doubt about what to do, always consult the instruction manual that came with your car or roof rack.

01 of 05

Lay the Kayak Straps Over the Bars of the Roof Rack

Kayak Roof Rack

George E. Sayour

The first step in tying your canoe or kayak down to your car is laying the straps over each bar. Of course, you will want to make sure the buckles on the end of the straps don't scratch your car door. Thread each strap underneath and around each bar and let the kayak straps lay flat against your vehicle. 

Typically, boat straps have two ends: one with a metal buckle or clamp and one without. To avoid damaging your paint, carefully rest the clamped end against the window and allow the non-metal end to hang along the car's body.

If you haven't already done so, it is a good idea at this point to check the crossbars of the kayak rack. Make sure they aren't loose. If they are, tighten them. Each rack will vary but most simply require an allen wrench (a good tool for your paddling gear).

02 of 05

Place Your Kayak or Canoe on the Roof Rack

Kayak Roof Rack Step 2

George E. Sayour

Now, get ready to place the kayak on the roof rack. If you are tying the kayak directly to the crossbars of the roof rack, place the boat upside down on the rack. Placing a plastic boat hull-side down can cause indentations, and while they can be removed, they will affect your boat's ability to track straight.

If you are using kayak carrier pads or special attachments like hooks or rollers on the roof rack, you can place the kayak right-side-up.

Whether your boat is better off facing the front or rear will depend on the type of kayak. Some sea kayaks are more aerodynamic from the bow—it's how they ride in water—and you'll get better gas mileage the less resistance you create. Recreational kayaks are often less defined from front to back, so you can go either way.

Try placing whitewater kayaks backward first and push the cockpit combing up against the inside of the back crossbar. The air pressure from the wind against the kayak will keep the kayak pushed up against the rear crossbar. 

When placing a canoe on a roof rack, center it on the crossbars for even weight distribution.

03 of 05

Bring the Canoe Straps Over the Canoe

Kayak Roof Rack Step 3

George E. Sayour

Once the boat is on the roof of the car and the straps are around the bars, pull the straps over the canoe or kayak to the other side of the roof rack to avoid car damage or even a broken window. It can be tough to get the canoe straps over a large canoe, but doing this correctly is worth the extra effort.

Pull on the buckle end (ensuring the strap remains over the bar) and walk it around the end of the vehicle and over the boat. Let this end hang freely while you pull on the other end to get more length, then toss the non-metal end over the boat. The trick is to get the straps over the canoe without damaging the car, boat, or yourself.

04 of 05

Secure the Kayak Straps

Kayak Roof Rack Step 4

George E. Sayour

Once the kayak is in position on the roof rack and the straps are laying over the kayak it is time to strap it down.

Ensure the straps are laying flat against the kayak and that they are not crossed. Then slide each strap so that the buckle lays against the hull of the kayak. Bring the other end underneath the crossbar and back up to meet the buckle. Thread the kayak strap up through the buckle by pushing the button on the clamp and opening a slot for the strap to fit through. Finally, pull the straps to take up the slack.

Now that the kayak straps are threaded through their buckles, it's time to tighten them up. Pull each strap down, allowing the straps to slide through the buckle. These buckles are really one-way clamps that allow the straps to slide through them one way (against some resistance) but not the other. To undo a strap, simply push the button and give it a tug to loosen it up.

You want the straps tight. It is okay if a plastic canoe or kayak seems to compress in the process as it will regain its form once it is free. However, if you're leaving it on the roof overnight at your camp or hotel, loosen up the straps for the night and tighten them in the morning. This takes some of the pressure off the kayak and prevents damage.

Continue to 5 of 5 below.
05 of 05

Roll and Tie the Kayak Straps Up

Kayak Roof Rack Step 5

George E. Sayour

Now that your boat is securely strapped down to your vehicle, it's time to go, right? Actually, there is one last step. To avoid kayak straps flapping in the wind and whipping against your car, you'll need to tie them up somehow. 

The best way is to wrap each strap around and around the part of the roof rack that attaches to the car. Then, take the end of the strap and knot it against the rest of the straps or wedge it under them. Once you've done this, your kayak should be secure, and you're ready to go.