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Getting your Canoe, Kayak or SUP to the water is an integral part of paddling. Unless you own an inflatable or folding boat that you can fit in the trunk you will need to invest in some transportation equipment. Sometimes the most dangerous part of paddling is getting you and your boat to the water in one piece. We've all seen vehicles on the road where the drivers load has shifted and is dangerously close to falling off. Working at Western Canoeing & Kayaking I've also seen many preventable repairs that have been required after such an incident. So, let’s try to avoid these situations by learning how to get you and your boat to the water with the right equipment.

Equipment

Base Roof Racks

      There are many options available depending on the type of vehicle you have and the type of paddle-craft you want to transport. Brands like Yakima, Malone and Swagman provide high quality roof racks, cradles and other tie down equipment. These base roof racks are very vehicle specific so make sure you check the vehicle fit specifications before committing to a particular base roof rack. Roof racks can get pricey but, there are other more affordable alternatives such as mini-cell foam blocks, inflatable racks and truck bed extenders which I will talk about in more detail in an upcoming blog post.

Check the Yakima Vehicle Fit information online here.

Check the Malone Vehicle Fit information online here.

Tie-Downs

Just as important as the roof rack are the tie-downs you use. Avoid things like bungee straps, ratcheting tie-downs and straps with hooks on the ends. Instead we recommend you use nylon cam buckle webbing straps as they won't stretch, slip or over-tighten your load. Cam straps also provide a closed loop system, so there is no chance of a hook coming unattached from your vehicle or rack.

Always tie down the front and back (bow and stern) of your load as well as at least 2 straps across the center. For the bow and stern safety tie downs I recommend using rope and learning how to do a few useful knots like the truckers hitch and bowline. Make sure you use rope that is not too stretchy and is easy to tie knots with, usually a softer rope is better, avoid the cheap yellow twine like rope as knots will not hold well. Also, check your vehicle to make sure it has spots to attach the bow and stern lines. If you have a hitch that will cover the attachment at the stern (back) but check the front of your vehicle closely as sometimes they are not located under the vehicle. Newer vehicles have small removable panels where an eyelet can be installed that is usually found with your spare tire components. Check with the vehicle manufacturer if you are unsure. If you don't have anywhere to tie down to there are alternatives for that too like Seattle Sports Quick Loops and Hood Loops.

Stay tuned for more about Roof racks, Mounts and Transport Accessories