Yak on a Car?

[Jay Dubs]

Alright, am I crazy in thinking I can get a yak on the roof of my Accord sedan with a Thule Aeroblade or other roof rack?  I'm only looking at a 10'-12' yak, so am thinking there is some sanity to the plan.

 

If anyone has a recommendation of a roof rack, let me know.  I'm just starting to research and hoping I'll save my self some headaches by getting some good advice here.

 

Thanks!

[Darren.]

I don't have that rack, my Rav4 has a built-in model,

and I load my 12' Native Ultimate on it "just fine"  

 

I would recommend some bar pads like these:

 

http://maloneautoracks.com/Rack-Pads/

 

I just bought a pair.

[Bluebasser86]

I have a beater that is my back and forth to work car, a Suzuki Verona, think they only made it for 2 years. It lived through a hurricane while my great aunt lived in Louisiana. I bought it from my grandma when my great aunt passed away. It's ugly and beat up, so I put a couple big pool noodles on my roof, ratchet strap it down, and away I go ?

[ClackerBuzz]

 

[NYWayfarer]

My car has no rack. I car top my 10' Kayak with one of those foam block kits they sell in DSG or Walmart.

 

 

I have recently upgraded the staps that came with the kit.

[FLSTYak]

My first kayak was a 10', that I used Yakima foam blocks on top of my old Acura RSX (2 door coupe). It was cheap and it worked. Just open the doors to strap it down. 

[Darren.]

Foam blocks are a great, cheap alternative to roof racks,

definitely. Before my RAV4 (a 2000 model), and before

my Tundra (now one of my son's truck), I would use the

foam blocks.

 

I like the longer versions, and they actually fit great on 

the RAV4s roof racks...until I forgot to remove them the

other day...one flew off somewhere. So I bought the 

Malone velcro wrap around versions so as to leave them

on and forget about 'em.

 

A great alternative.

[SlappinKraken]

I used rhino racks on my Mazda 6 for hauling a 12 foot and a 10 foot kayak. One was flat and the other was on thule j racks. The equipment was kind of pricey but we made 4 hour road trips each year to either door county or st clair so it was worth it. Never had issues. 

[basswrangler83]

I use a sea to summit removable soft roof rack on my 4 door Kia Forte. I ratchet strap my yak to it. Just 2 ratchet straps, that's it. Don't over tighten it though. 

[LCG]

On 5/13/2018 at 9:26 PM, basswrangler83 said:

I use a sea to summit removable soft roof rack on my 4 door Kia Forte. I ratchet strap my yak to it. Just 2 ratchet straps, that's it. Don't over tighten it though. 

Never had a kayak but thinking of getting one. Transportation makes me very nervous though. 

 

How tight do you make the straps exactly? Like baby car seat no wobble side to side kind of tight? 

 

How do you guys and gals strap the front and rear down? 

 

Can these straps hold at highway speeds for an extended road trip? 

[flyfisher]

39 minutes ago, Luke G. said:

Never had a kayak but thinking of getting one. Transportation makes me very nervous though. 

 

How tight do you make the straps exactly? Like baby car seat no wobble side to side kind of tight? 

 

How do you guys and gals strap the front and rear down? 

 

Can these straps hold at highway speeds for an extended road trip? 

If you use cam lock straps (not ratchet) you will know how tight they are.  You don't need to cinch them down to the point of deforming the boat.

As far as front and rear goes, most cars have a tow point at the front that you can use to tie them down.  I always used one of the yakima bow and stern tie down deal when i had to worry about that.  Also depending on your cross bar spread, you may not even have to worry about using bow and stern tie downs.  I always go buy as only as the straps are more than a third of the length of the boat apart then bow & stern tie downs aren't needed.  I know people will disagree and that is fine but with around 3 feet extending past the cross bar on a 12' kayak you won't have to worry about bow lift.  

As far as extended trips, a resounding yes and they can hold at highway speeds. I have thousands of miles cartopping a kayak at highway speeds and whenever i stop i check them and never had to tighten.  

[Dponchay]

 

I used to use the cam straps, but I traded to a ratchet strap. It makes me feel safer going 70+ mph down the highway. That is a 10 footer on a corolla and it works just fine with the foam bricks!