- 1
Wipe the roof, then set the blocks
Grit under a foam block is sandpaper. Wipe the spots where the blocks will sit. Space them as far apart front to back as your roof allows; a wider stance is a steadier boat. On crossbars, slide the blocks onto the bars.
- 2
Lift the boat on and center it
A canoe goes on upside down with its gunwales in the block slots. A kayak sits hull-down in V-shaped blocks. Center the boat side to side, and front to back over the car.
- 3
Run the center straps through the doors
Open the doors and run each strap over the boat and through the car, not through the windows. Put the cam buckle where you can reach it, off to the side of the hull, then close the doors on the straps.
- 4
Snug, not cranked
Pull until the boat doesn’t shift when you push it. Over-tightening can dent a plastic kayak hull or bow a car door seal. Cam straps hold by friction, so they don’t need muscle.
- 5
Put a twist in the strap
A flat strap vibrates in the wind and hums at highway speed. One or two half-twists in the length that crosses the roof stops it. Our customers swear by this one.
- 6
Tie the bow and stern
Bow and stern lines keep the boat from swinging and lifting in crosswinds. Anchor the front to hood loops under the hood bolts and the rear to a tow point or a second loop. Snug them; they steer, the center straps hold.
- 7
Tame the tails and check again
Tie off or tuck any extra strap length so it can’t flap. Stop after the first 15 to 20 minutes, push on the boat, and re-tighten. Straps settle.
Field Journal · How-to
How to tie a boat to your roof
Seven steps for a kayak, canoe or paddleboard on foam blocks, with or without a roof rack.
Your kit’s instructions come first. Every boat and car is a little different. Read the sheet in the box, respect your vehicle’s roof-load limit, and check local rules on overhang for long boats.