Do You Need A Roof Rack To Transport A Kayak?
You don’t need a roof rack to transport a kayak. You can use pool noodles or foam blocks with straps to secure your kayak on the top of your car without side rails. It’s also possible to transport a kayak in a truck bed or on a trailer. So there are alternatives to roof racks.
Transporting A Kayak Without A Roof Rack
The simplest and cheapest way to transport a kayak without a roof rack is to use pool noodles and straps. First, you can put the pool noodles on the roof of your car. Then, you have to load the kayak on the noodles. After that, you need to secure your kayak with straps.
It’s a very simplistic way to put it, but yes, it’s as easy as that. Don’t worry. I will give you more details to guide you through the whole process. So here are 3 simple steps to transport your kayak without a roof rack.
What Will You Need?
1. Place The Pool Noodles On Your Car
The first step is to find some pool noodles. You should ideally use large, solid, and sticky pool noodles like these ones, but if you already have some, it should do the job. It doesn’t even need to be pool noodles. You can use anything that will protect your car roof from scratches and damage.
Some people on Reddit have suggested using towels or camping mattresses. Foam blocks, rolled-up blankets, pillows, or even yoga mats would also work. Just find something that’s relatively soft and won’t catch in the wind too much. But pool noodles are generally the best option, and they are inexpensive.
The purpose is to protect your roof and kayak from scratching and damaging each other. Once you have the pool noodles, you can cut them if they need to. They should be slightly longer than the kayak width and smaller or equal to the car roof width.
You will ideally need three pool noodles, but it can work with only two, and you can use more if you want. You can also put something inside the noodles, like wood, aluminum, or PVC sticks, to make them stronger and more durable. Another upgrade would be to insert straps inside the noodles to secure them on the car.
But if you want to keep it simple and won’t transport your kayak very often, you can just put the pool noodles on the car. So whether they are modified or not, you should place one in the front, one in the back, and one in the middle of the roof.
Here’s a good video that explains and shows how to place the pool noodles on the car. You can add a third one for extra protection if you want.
2. Put Your Kayak On The Pool Noodles
The second step is to put the kayak on top of your car with the pool noodles under it. You should ideally seek the help of someone else, but you can still do it on your own. Lifting the kayak at two will be much easier and safer.
If you find someone else to help you out, one person can take the front of the boat (bow) and the other the back. Then, you can lift it at the same time and place it on the pool noodles with the center of the kayak aligned with the middle of the roof.
The bow should ideally be in the front. Besides that, some designs will do better with the hull on the noodles, while others will fit nicely upside down. But if it rains, the cockpit should be facing the roof not to get filled up with water. So I would recommend opting for that option if it’s possible.
How To Load A Kayak On A Roof Car Alone?
If you’re alone to load your kayak onto your car, it will probably be harder and more complicated. If it’s not too heavy, you might be able to lift it and put it on the roof by the side. With a long and relatively light kayak, you could try to lift it over your head and slide it on the pool noodles by the back of your car.
But heavy boats might require two people or a carpet/blanket to load it on a kayak by yourself. You can put a thick carpet or blanket on the roof, place one tip of the kayak on it, and slide it on the car. Then, you can align it properly on the pool noodles and remove the blanket or carpet.
Here’s another video that shows how to do it. You don’t have to watch it until the end. The information you need for now is between 2:30 and 4:00. Don’t worry, the video should start at the right time, and you can stop it after the loading part.
Once the kayak is on the roof, you can replace the noodles if they have moved during the loading. After that, you will be ready to secure everything in place.
3. Secure Your Kayak With Straps
The next step is to tie down your kayak to the roof. For that, you will ideally need at least two straps and a way to attach them tightly. The Yak Boss cam straps or this ratchet tie-down set would be perfect for securing a kayak on your car. You can probably get away with any rope, but it won’t be as convenient and safe.
Once you have the straps, you can open the doors of your car, take a strap, throw the end without the buckle above your kayak, and pass it through the car’s front or back doors. Then, you can twist it where it doesn’t touch the kayak to avoid it from catching in the wind and making annoying sounds while driving.
Once it’s twisted, you can insert it into the buckle. Placing it close to the kayak outside the car will make it easier to use. After that, you can pull the strap to remove the slack and tighten it using your body weight or the handle if it’s a ratcheting system. It should be tight enough so that the kayak doesn’t move.
You can attach the excess of the strap to the part inside the car or the grab handles to avoid it from being loose in the wind and slapping on the roof during the ride. Once it’s all set, you can repeat the same process with another strap on the other door.
Here’s a video to show you how to secure your kayak on the pool noodles with cam straps that have hooks.
For Extra Safety | Tie Down The Bow And Stern Of The Kayak!
Although the straps should keep the kayak in place, it might not be enough. If you really want it to be secure, you must attach the front and back to the car. To do so, you can use straps, nylon cords, or any rope you have.
First, you need to attach one rope to the bow of the kayak and another to the stern. Then, you have to tie them down to the recovery points underneath the front and rear of the vehicle. If you don’t find them, you can always look at the car’s manual.
Another option would be to use hood loops to attach the bow of the kayak. Depending on the rope you use, you might need carabiners too. And make sure the excess of the strap or cord is attached somewhere it won’t be in your way or disturb you while driving.
The ideal place to attach the straps on the boat is on the grab handles. But anything else relatively solid that you can tie down something on it should do the job. Don’t forget that it’s an extra precaution.
The kayak shouldn’t move if you installed the ratchet straps around it properly. But I would still recommend always tying down the bow and stern, just in case. After that, you can double-check that everything is secured and you’re ready to transport your kayak without a roof rack.
Other Ways To Transport A Kayak Without A Roof Rack?
Using pool noodles with ratchet or cam buckle straps isn’t the only way to transport a kayak without a roof rack. You can also use foam blocks, rolled towels or blankets, a truck bed, or a trailer. Some of those kayak transportation methods might actually be better depending on your car, kayak, and equipment.
Let’s explore your options!
Foam Blocks
Foam blocks are more durable and stable than pool noodles. They might cost a little bit more but are still very cheap. The concept is the same, but you only need two foam blocks: one in the front and one in the back of the roof. Then, you can follow the same process as with pool noodles.
I found this rack-free car carrier kit that includes foam blocks, two straps, and a 15-foot nylon rope. It would be ideal for transporting your kayak without a roof rack. If you already have the straps, you can check those foam blocks on amazon!
Rolled Towels/Blankets
If you don’t have pool noodles or foam blocks and don’t want to buy any, you can use rolled old towels or blankets instead. It’s a more DIY method, but it can still work. You can also take yoga mats. Whatever material you choose, just make sure it won’t unroll.
So you can put elastics or tape around it to hold everything together. That will also make it stick more to the roof and kayak than a blanket or towel alone. After that, you can follow the steps as with the pool noodles and replace them with what you got.
Truck Bed
If your car is a pickup, you can probably transport your kayak in the truck bed. You simply have to open your tailgate, load your kayak inside, and secure it with straps. Depending on the truck and boat design, you might be able to transport it with the tailgate closed.
Then, you can add something to protect the kayak. Don’t forget to put flags if it sticks out more than 4 feet from the truck. Besides that, some accessories will allow you to transport a kayak without a roof rack, such as truck bed extenders and racks.
Kayak Trailer
Another alternative to roof racks is kayak trailers. They can be a convenient solution for heavy and long boats because you won’t have to lift them onto your car. And you won’t have to worry about damaging your roof. So you should maybe consider a kayak trailer like this one.
How To Transport 2 Kayaks Without A Roof Rack?
You can use pool noodles to transport two kayaks without a roof rack. Put the pool noodles on your car, load the kayaks, secure them with straps, and tie down their bow and stern. You can also place something in between them to keep the kayaks from moving and scratching each other.
The concept is the same as presented above, but with two kayaks. You can replace the noodles with two wide enough foam blocks or even long rolled towels, blankets, or yoga mats. However, you might not be able to fit more than one kayak on your car.
So you might have to consider investing in a roof rack if your car can have one, a double kayak trailer, or figure out a way to place them on your roof. You might be able to fit two wide kayaks on a car if you put them on the side and secure them that way.
Learn more about how to transport two kayaks without a roof rack!
Consider Investing In A Roof Rack!
Roof racks are generally the best way to transport kayaks. So if you’re an avid paddler, you should probably consider buying one. Those roof rack pads are very cheap and work with or without side rails.
It’s similar to the pool noodles or foam blocks method but more durable, safe, and easy to use. If you have car side rails, you can invest in crossbars and a kayak roof rack. They will generally be much better than any DIY carrier. Here’s how to transport a kayak with a roof rack!
Last Thoughts About Transporting A Kayak Without A Roof Rack!
Finally, you can transport a kayak without a roof rack. It can be as simple as placing pool noodles on your car and strapping your kayak to the roof. You can also use foam blocks, rolled towels, blankets, or yoga mats.
As long as you have something to put in between your kayak and the roof that will protect both and stay in place, it should work. Using a trailer is also another convenient but expensive option. Then, people with pickups might be able to secure their boats in the truck bed.
But if you plan to transport your kayak often, you should consider investing in a roof rack like this one. It’s the same concept as the pool noodles method but much better and more durable. Whether you choose to use a roof rack or not, I’m sure you will find a way to get on the water. Just make sure to do it safely.
Let’s Carry That Kayak Wherever You Want!
