Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => Gear Talk => Topic started by: Seawalker on November 15, 2021, 11:25:30 AM
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Hi all,
First post here. Is it feasible or possible to safely transport a 14 foot board on the roof of a smaller car, like a sedan, hatch, or mid size sedan?
Every car I’ve seen carrying race boards has been an SUV, But in a small car where the board is as long as the car itself, there doesn’t seem to be an easy attachment point to tie down the stern of the board to the front of the car like I see people do with canoes on hatchbacks.
Or is it a non issue really, just get a roof rack and throw it on? I’m trying to figure out logistics before I go with a 14 footer..
Thanks!
Jason
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Just get a roof rack and throw it on.. Easy and no problem at all.. Also concider getting some of those Velcro roof rack pads to protect the board and quality straps (not the ratchet type).
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check out these accessories
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GF8FSF5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
some attachments latch on the front bumper and then attach to the board or kayak or canoe, but you can chip the paint of your hood on a long trip. These gadgets are really well designed, kept in place by the weight the hood and you can put them on either side of the hood with and then run ropes to the board..go fin first deck side down and run the line through the leash plug ..of course you will need roof racks for the rest of the board, but this is an option to control the the board over your hood....
I used these to transport a small sailboat and they worked great.
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On smaller cars I’ll use a pair of EVA blocks, spread front and back as much as possible, with the straps run through the car, again, spread front and back as much as possible. This often means a strap near the front of the front door opening and near the back of the back door opening.
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I have been transporting a 14' board on small cars for years with no issues. Strap it to the roof rack and go.
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Same here, i drive a civic with roof rack. No issue with my 12'6, just strap it to the roof. no bow or stern straps.
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Caribsurf... those things are cool. I don't need them but it's good to know that they exist
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Thanks all! Sounds like I don’t need straps on the front of the car then. That makes life easier! Although those under the hood loops on Amazon are a great idea.
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Caribsurf... those things are cool. I don't need them but it's good to know that they exist
I thought the same thing Tom. I was stumped trying to find a way to transport a small sailboat and support the bow without damaging the font bumper and hood of my car..those things are genius and worked really well
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yeah, you definitely don't need straps on the front of the car. While I do have a Tacoma with a shell, reality is that the racks on it aren't much farther apart than they would be on a small sedan. As I pretty much have a board up there full time, I have two further recommendations: 1. Get a UV cover (Victory Koredry)--not sure where you are but sun exposure is the main thing I worry about. 2. You don't need to overtighten things. There's very little chance of losing a board so long as it's snug against the racks or pads. strapping too tight will lead to pressure dings pretty quickly.
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I use the NRS 1.5" wide straps. Wider means the pressure gets distributed across a wider area, which is easier on the rail of the board. I loop one strap per rack so the force is distributed even more. You want to put one or two twists in the straps across the top to prevent the tight flat straps from humming when you drive. The humming can also damage the finish on the board. I snug mine down and close the extra strap in the back door. I have the 15' long straps because I'll stack as many as four boards high on my rack (not recommended for freeway driving) ;D
Here's a picture of my car (which has fairly narrow racks) with my 18' race board strapped down. I have driven thousands of miles with the board strapped on just like this. In a board bag for longer trips. Even two 18' boards some times.
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Amazon is for sissies! If you need hood tie downs, they are easy to make and super useful for larger craft that catch a lot of wind.
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Agree with TD on wider straps. I like Dakine Baha. Also run an extra strap through vehicle for complete peace of mind and back up. Check out Blue Planet on YouTube several interesting strapping vids to a prius.