When it comes to how to tie a canoe to a car roof there are a a few different options it all depends on whether or not you have a roof rack.
How to tie kayak paddle to roof rack.
Inflatable racks inflatable roof racks require a slightly different tie down procedure than hard and soft racks as they do not have fastening points to loop the straps through.
The easiest way is with the help of a friend.
Foam blocks and crossbar pads are economical options that protect your canoe roof rack and vehicle.
Tying a kayak onto a roof rack can vary depending on the type of rack you have but generally the idea is the same with the kayak s weight being evenly distributed over your vehicle for safety.
To tie down a kayak place it right side up on your roof rack and center it.
Using cam straps is the simplest and fastest way to secure the boat.
You ll pick the boat up by each end and place it on the rack.
Most include the necessary tie downs as well.
A roof rack is ideal as it provides the most secure tie down.
Choose a kayak carrier the right kayak carrier for you depends on the size weight of your watercraft how many kayaks you want to transport and how convenient of a setup you prefer.
Tie down a kayak.
Tie the straps down with cam buckles to secure the kayak.
It can also be useful to tie it down at the widest point.
Run 2 boat straps over the top of the kayak and them under the roof rack bars then bring the straps to the other side of the kayak and loop them under the roof rack bars on that side.
Once your kayak is in place on the roof of your vehicle open all the doors of your car.
If you don t have a roof rack there are still other options out there for you.
To carry your canoe on a roof rack you ll need a carrier designed for this use.
If you re solo there are a couple of options depending on your rack system.
It also reduces the risk of damaging your vehicle.
There are multiple styles of carriers available.
Note that some types of larger kayaks should not be used with roof racks.
A short video showing just one way to securely tie a kayak to a roof rack.
Check your manufacturer s instructions for details on your kayak.
Soft kayak racks will have fastening points for you to loop tie down straps through.