New to Kayak Fishing, Transportation Question.

[Ads7633]

I just purchased and Ascend FS12T Sit On Top Fishing Kayak. My main question at this point has to deal with transportation. The Kayak is 12ft and 77lbs, and I don't have a truck or SUV. So, I need to figure out the best way to strap it to my car. I was thinking that I could put it upside down on pool noodles and tie it down with ratchet straps through the doors. Does this method raise any immediate red flags? I got it from the store this way with no problems, but I don't want to risk damaging the kayak or losing it on the road, any thoughts or suggestions?

[J Francho]

You can buy a car top kit that comes with foam blocks and straps for less than what you'd spend on the ratchets and pool noodle, and it will work better.

[Ads7633]

22 minutes ago, J Francho said:

You can buy a car top kit that comes with foam blocks and straps for less than what you'd spend on the ratchets and pool noodle, and it will work better.

Huh, good to know. Except I already have the ratchets. Do you think I run the risk of the ratchets damaging the kayak from being too tight?

[J Francho]

Not if you don't over-tighten them.

They also sell the foam separately.  Probably more than a pool noodle, but will offer better protection for your vehicle.  If you have a roof rack already, then the noodles are fine.  That's what I ended up doing when I use the car with a Thule rack.  It was way easier than the J-cradles.

[stk]

I've seen guys use this method (foam blocks and ratchet straps) on the roof of their car and it's worked well.  I would also look into tie downs on the front and back of the kayak depending on how far and fast you are driving.  Thule make these hood loops that will give you tie downs in the front, or you can make your own with a strap and finding a fender bolt under the hood. 

It may be extra hassle but it's one of my main concerns.  I'd rather spend the extra time to tie it down than have the kayak come off the car adn hurt someone on the highway.

Keep in mind as well if you have straps that go inside of the car, if it rains the water will run into your car.

[Yakalong]

I agree with stk, tie it down on the front and back also, a few extra minutes is worth your kayak flying off your car.

[J Francho]

18 hours ago, stk said:

Keep in mind as well if you have straps that go inside of the car, if it rains the water will run into your car.

That's a major benefit of the roof rack.

[MassYak85]

22 hours ago, stk said:

I've seen guys use this method (foam blocks and ratchet straps) on the roof of their car and it's worked well.  I would also look into tie downs on the front and back of the kayak depending on how far and fast you are driving. 

^ Very important. Especially without actual roofracks where the kayak might not be secured as well. And with the heavier kayak if you should need to stop suddenly while driving, if it is not tied to the back and the straps aren't holding it snug to the roof well then you might have it slide forward. 

[flyfisher]

I will say that foam blocks are fine and dandy but save up and get a rack, you will thank yourself later on and wonder why you didn't get it in the first place.

[the reel ess]

On 11/15/2016 at 1:19 PM, Ads7633 said:

I just purchased and Ascend FS12T Sit On Top Fishing Kayak. My main question at this point has to deal with transportation. The Kayak is 12ft and 77lbs, and I don't have a truck or SUV. So, I need to figure out the best way to strap it to my car. I was thinking that I could put it upside down on pool noodles and tie it down with ratchet straps through the doors. Does this method raise any immediate red flags? I got it from the store this way with no problems, but I don't want to risk damaging the kayak or losing it on the road, any thoughts or suggestions?

I did exactly as you're describing with a canoe on top of my wife's small SUV once except I strapped it to the roof rack. I have a truck but we needed shuttle service up the river. I sliced pool noodles and put them on the gunwales and put the canoe on upside down. It was sketchy at best. I still had to open her sunroof and hold on to the canoe and we went no faster than 35 mph. There was just not enough surface contact on the roof. And that car has a rack on the roof.

 

[flyfisher]

If you had a rack on there then there was something wrong with your fastening system or the bars are super close together. If you used ratchet straps through the doors while it was on a factory rack, then that was probably your issue. I have put many a canoe and kayak on factory racks and when properly secured I have never had a concern.  

5 hours ago, the reel ess said:

I did exactly as you're describing with a canoe on top of my wife's small SUV once except I strapped it to the roof rack. I have a truck but we needed shuttle service up the river. I sliced pool noodles and put them on the gunwales and put the canoe on upside down. It was sketchy at best. I still had to open her sunroof and hold on to the canoe and we went no faster than 35 mph. There was just not enough surface contact on the roof. And that car has a rack on the roof.

 

 

[the reel ess]

On 11/17/2016 at 8:11 PM, flyfisher said:

If you had a rack on there then there was something wrong with your fastening system or the bars are super close together. If you used ratchet straps through the doors while it was on a factory rack, then that was probably your issue. I have put many a canoe and kayak on factory racks and when properly secured I have never had a concern.  

 

I said I strapped it to the roof rack. And yeah, it's a small SUV. It should have been strapped at each end as well. I admit the issue was mine. I also don't recommend doing it the way I did. But it was a one-time thing and we managed.

[flyfisher]

I know you had a rack but going through the doors was the issue.

http://paddling.about.com/od/paddling101/ss/kayak_roof_rack.htm#showall

This should help clarify what I was referring to.