Kayak Carry Question

[Rhardy]

This may be a terrible idea, hence my asking first. I have a Mazda CX-5 and a 10’ kayak. The car has no roof rack or hitch. It’s an older high mileage car so I don’t want to spend the money for either because as soon as I do the old thing will up and die on me.
 

The kayak will fit in the back but leaves about a foot hanging out. If I tie the hatch down, and leave the windows down, does anyone see an issue doing this? I don’t really think there would be an exhaust issue coming in but leaving the windows down would be a good safety measure. 
 

One area I go is only about 8 miles but if I am not going to asphyxiate myself there are plenty of other options further away. Thanks. 

[MN Fisher]

With the hatch cracked and window open, you'll be fine.

[Bankc]

People do this all of the time.  It's fine.  Your state may require you to put a red flag on the kayak since it's sticking out of your car.  Check that out first, so you don't get a ticket. 

 

Exhaust won't be a problem since the car is moving.  In fact, it would probably be safer to keep your windows up and run the vent on your dash instead.  Due to Bernoulli's principle, an increase in wind speed (like what you'll have as your car drives down the road) equates to a decrease in pressure.  So the faster you drive with your windows rolled down, the more of a vacuum your windows will create against the air pressure inside your car.  Of course that principle also works on your open back hatch, so it's not like it's going to be sucking huge amounts of exhaust into your car due to the windows.  And there's more air back there than there is exhaust.  But the vent forcing air through should create more pressure up front to push more air outside, keeping less air from coming in.

 

Back when I was in a similar situation, I car topped my kayak and used pool noodles with PVC pipe ran through the middle of them to give them some extra strength.  It worked pretty well, but eventually the noodles (which are cheap) compressed and I started to scratch up the roof of my car.  Not a big deal on a car with 170k miles and hail damage.  It's just a cheap way to car top a kayak if you're don't care about getting scratches or dents.  

[Deleted account]

Moving blanket with a couple of ratchet straps and tying off the points front and aft is how I would do it if I'd ever lost my mind and actually considered fishing out of one of those things....

[Bass Junke]

https://smile.amazon.com/Jadeshay-Replacement-Universal-Rack-Free-Stand-up/dp/B07ZTL77DX/ref=sr_1_10?crid=1GW8ON35J3HBO&keywords=canoe+foam+blocks+for+roof+rack&qid=1648654610&sprefix=foam+blocks+for+roof%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-10

Something like this is also an inexpensive option.

[Rhardy]

Thanks for the assurance that hauling this way is ok. I have looked at the foam roof top carrier so I will give that more thought as well. 

[Koz]

On 3/30/2022 at 10:35 AM, Bankc said:

Due to Bernoulli's principle, an increase in wind speed (like what you'll have as your car drives down the road) equates to a decrease in pressure. 

 I would bet good money that this is the first time that Bernoulli's principle has ever been mentioned on a fishing forum. 

 

Kudos!

[schplurg]

When I did that in my mini-van once I secured the hatchback door so it couldn't slam up and down hitting my kayak and maybe ruining the door. I think I used bungees to give it some play.

 

My "door is ajar" warning dinged for about ten minutes as I drove but it eventually THANKFULLY stopped!!! I cranked up my stereo the first ten miles.

 

Finally, modern cars are so efficient that people are complaining about not being able to do themselves in using the old "car exhaust with a hose in the window" trick Okay maybe not, but you should be fine as you described.

[Gera]

On 3/30/2022 at 10:35 AM, Bankc said:

People do this all of the time.  It's fine.  Your state may require you to put a red flag on the kayak since it's sticking out of your car.  Check that out first, so you don't get a ticket. 

 

Exhaust won't be a problem since the car is moving.  In fact, it would probably be safer to keep your windows up and run the vent on your dash instead.  Due to Bernoulli's principle, an increase in wind speed (like what you'll have as your car drives down the road) equates to a decrease in pressure.  So the faster you drive with your windows rolled down, the more of a vacuum your windows will create against the air pressure inside your car.  Of course that principle also works on your open back hatch, so it's not like it's going to be sucking huge amounts of exhaust into your car due to the windows.  And there's more air back there than there is exhaust.  But the vent forcing air through should create more pressure up front to push more air outside, keeping less air from coming in.

 

Back when I was in a similar situation, I car topped my kayak and used pool noodles with PVC pipe ran through the middle of them to give them some extra strength.  It worked pretty well, but eventually the noodles (which are cheap) compressed and I started to scratch up the roof of my car.  Not a big deal on a car with 170k miles and hail damage.  It's just a cheap way to car top a kayak if you're don't care about getting scratches or dents.  

 

I feel great when actual science is used to solve fishing related issues..