How to Transport a Kayak | Kayaking for Beginners

I have never seen anyone on you-tube strap the foam pads to the kayak first. Thank you for that It make so much sense.

Don’t forget when a “load” overhangs the rear of your vehicle you may need to have a red flag (or red light at night) depending on the length of overhang and the local laws.

THX for the Great primer for first time buyers and good info for veteran yakers ready to upgrade their racks. A couple points to add: 1. Strap your boat just in front of and just behind the cockpit (the hull is always strongest there and the cockpit coaming will prevent the boat from sliding forward or aft when strapped that way. 2. When using the Bow and Stern straps, never crank down tight on them., you will do serious damage to your boat! They are only safety lines to keep the boat attached to the car if the rack fails. 3. those J bars that you showed at 10:48 have a fatal flaw. If you strap to the j bar only, when it fails the boat becomes a kite. I have seen that happen more than once.

Another great video. This question is probably the 2nd most asked question on our local Facebook groups right after "what's a good first kayak?" So much easier to share your videos than try and answer myself.

"I magically transported the kayak onto to roof of the vehicle...and I'm out of breath for a completely unrelated reason" ;)

I have that overhaul HD rack on my Toyota Tundra. Absolutely worth the money if you are really into water sports. I can fit three 15’+ boats up top and three 10’8” paddle boards below the rack. Enjoyed the demo Ken.

I would also loop your straps through the kayaks side carry handles. This would also stop kayak sliding forward under braking. On roof rack.

Love your videos. The quality of the video and audio and the comprehensive nature of the video is unparrelled.

This video helped me feel a lot more confident about hauling my new kayak atop my car. Thank you.

I've owned several canoes throughout my life. Just bought my 1st kayak, bought my Yakima rooftop carriers before I went to buy my yak. Only used it once, so far, just ordered a kayak specific PFD, shopping for a longer paddle (260). But the biggest eye opener has been the damage from dragging (I assumed it would be like a canoe) bought Kydex to make keel guards and I'll be adding side handles; both for carrying/loading, & standing up and stepping out! Fun new hobby that my son & grandkids brought me into!

Awesome video man, I wish I could have found it a month ago! I'm 2 months into kayaking and after buying my first kayak I was scratching my head as to transporting it. I bought an inflatable roof rack but was annoying because it could be punctured and felt unsteady. I ended up buying roof racks and tried to get them to fit on a coupe 2013 Honda. Didn't quite fit so I simply bolted them to the car and so far I've had no problems with loading or anything. Along with some ratchet straps and a locking cable I feel safe driving with 2 kayaks in top of my car.

You had too much fun poofing between scenes 😆 thanks for the vids!

I use roof racks. I drive a little Hyundai Accent four-door hatch, and the roof racks make it look a little more badass, but especially with the 'yak on top. And best part about having a small car, I can easily load it and unload it myself. I use two straps, one on either end of the cockpit, right under the spray skirt lip, and I've never lived in fear of it sliding out; it does not move at all. Though I don't have a super long one. It's about mid-range in length, can't remember the exact size. The last part of my set up is, I mounted my kayak from the garage ceiling, so now when I take it out, it's just an easy (kind of) releasing of the straps over the car, then strapping it down to the car.

I have the Yakima Overhaul HD with a tonneau cover…I just purchased a used Eddyline Rio now figuring out if I want the Yakima Sweetwater pads system or padding on the bars. Fun decisions.

Very good video. Very good youtube channel! Your channel should be watched by everyone who is thinking about buying a kayak. I recommend it to all my French friends who are thinking of buying a kayak.

For sit on top kayaks, if you can put it on edge with J style rack, I like to send a strap through the scupper holes. then you dont have to worry about bow lines in the same way.

Thanks for a great video. I’m looking at getting into kayaking. I’ve got a Chevy Suburban, so I’ve got plenty of roof to work with. However I don’t have a rack and have no desire to put one on. Those foam blocks along with straps through both doors look like the way to go. Thanks again.

Nice options described for people starting out. I've been toting rooftop boats for decades. Kevlar kayaks to heavy duck hunting canoes to wooden piroue boats. If you dont have a hard fastened roof rack (bolted on) then running the strap through open doors is best on modern curvy car roofs. There is really no other firm purchase on wind runnel cars. Watch out for rain when the car is parked in a thunderstorm...but driving through rain I've not had problems. The pads are terrible about picking up sand, dirt and gravel if you sit them down first to mount the boat. Sandpapers the finish. I either mount them facing up and flip the boat in air (canoe for instance) ...or I sit the two pads on towels on the ground to avoid picking up dirt. Straps...not too tight. Cam straps are fine just tug tight. Ratchet straps can cave in a boat or permanently dent your roof. It is not necessary to add 500lbs of torque to hold a 40lb boat. Ropes....learn the truckers knot and you'll find ropes are much easier than tensioning with bowlines and half hitches. Learned that after years of tying far too many knots.

Helpful but would also add that ropes can stretch and it is better to use straps as you showed most of the time. The foam pads can also be mounted on most standard car roof racks. And dont forget kayak carts for those that live just a couple blocks from the water.

Very informative! Thanks so much!