Even if you own a small car or sedan, you can still enjoy a great day on the water with your kayak. Many people will safely carry and transport their kayaks on top of their cars without a roof rack!
You can safely put a kayak on a small car by placing it on foam blocks or pool noodles to protect the kayak and car’s finish from damage. Pass ratchet straps through the open car doors to secure the kayak while driving. Check the straps and retighten them after 30 minutes and every hour while driving.
Now that you know it’s possible to carry a kayak on top of your car without an expensive roof rack or trailer, let’s look at your options. Check out the short video below!
The Pool Noodle Kayak Rack – Quick and Easy
The best-known ‘Do It Yourself’ method of carrying your kayak in your car is the Pool Noodle Kayak Rack!
Pool Noodle Kayak Rack Setup
You can purchase a minimum of three pool noodles from your local Walmart or other discount stores and place them roughly 24″ to 30″ apart on the roof of your car.
The roof of your vehicle will determine exactly how far to place them. Have them far enough to the front and back of your roof to protect your car’s finish. The third noodle will go in between the other two noodles to provide additional protection and padding.
TIP: You can always use additional pool noodles where you may need them!
Once your noodles are where you want them, trim them to the width of your car with a pair of sharp scissors or utility knife. You don’t want the noodles to flake off to the side of the car, so trim them accordingly!
After trimming the noodles to length, place your ratchet straps through their hollow section. Most people will place the ratchet straps through the front and rear noodles. You can use a third ratchet strap in the middle if you think you need to!
I have seen people slip a piece of PVC piping into the pool noodle for additional support. This may exert additional unneeded downward force on the vehicle’s roof.
Before you tighten down and secure your pool noodles, be sure to open your car doors! Otherwise, you won’t be able to open the doors afterward!
Place the Kayak on Top of the Car, and Noodles
A lighter kayak is easier to lift to the top of your car. If it is heavier than you want to lift straight up, leave one end on the ground and lift from the other.
Tip: Transport your kayak with the hull in an upright position.
Once one end is atop the car roof, lifting the other, swinging it over, and placing it onto the car is easy.
After your kayak is in place, you should make any necessary adjustments to the pool noodles to protect both your car and the kayak.
Secure the Kayak With the Ratchet Straps
Now that your kayak is in place use the ratchet straps to secure it tightly so you can safely drive down the road!
Tip: To keep your straps from whistling and flapping in the wind, give them a few twists before you tighten them down!
Place one strap over the hull at the front and another over the kayak at the rear. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN THE STRAPS!!! You want enough holding power to secure the kayak while driving, but you don’t want to deform or damage your kayak or car either!
Secure the Bow and Stern of the Kayak
Double-check that your kayak is secure and where you want it to be while traveling. Using rope or additional straps, secure your bow and stern to your vehicle’s front and rear bumper.
Since you’re not using a solid roof rack, securing the bow and stern will keep the kayak from lifting and moving while you drive. Most kayaks have easy attachment points at the grab handles.
Tip: Stop and check your straps after 30 minutes of driving, as they’ll often begin to loosen up. If you’re traveling a longer distance, check them every hour or so to be sure they remain tight!
With a longer kayak that may hang out over the bumpers, you may also want to add a red flag for safety reasons.
Now, your kayak is nicely secured to the top of your car! Remember to drive safely and check the straps holding the kayak every hour or so.
Foam Block Kayak Carrier Setup – A Step Up!
There is nothing wrong with the pool noodle setup except maybe being a little heavy on the DIY look! The next step up is an inexpensive foam block kayak carrier.
Universal Rack-Free Car Top Carrier
The Rack-Free Car Top Carrier is a great solution for transporting your kayak without a roof rack. Its easy-to-use straps securely hold your kayak on top of your car, making it simple to load and unload. Its durable design provides a safe and reliable way to carry your kayak to your favorite fishing spot.
The process is the same as the pool noodle setup above. Just replace the noodles with the foam blocks!
Soft Roof Rack Pads
One more option for transporting a kayak in a car without a roof rack is the soft pad roof rack. These are very similar to the foam block carrier and attach to the car’s roof accordingly.
Soft Roof Rack Pads w/Tie Downs
The Soft Roof Rack Pads are perfect for safely transporting your kayak on any vehicle. These cushioned pads protect your kayak and car roof from scratches, while the sturdy tie-downs keep everything securely in place.
The soft roof rack pads are designed to slide over a roof rack, but they can be used similarly to the pool noodles and foam blocks. They sit slightly lower than the foam blocks and store easily because they can squish down. They also come with a storage bag.
How Fast Can You Drive With a Kayak on the Roof?
It never fails when we’re out driving, whether we’re transporting kayaks or driving down the road pulling a trailer. You always want to go a little faster to get there a little quicker!
You can travel at the posted speed limits depending on how the kayak is secured to the vehicle. The faster you go, the more the wind force is applied to your kayak, and more things may go wrong. Check your rigging every hour or so, and you can drive at a speed that won’t impede other traffic.
The thing about driving fast is that you generally won’t get there that much quicker anyway! It is not quick enough to risk having your kayak become loose on top of your car or damaged.
Drive safely and use common sense when traveling with a kayak strapped to your car roof!
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Have fun, and stay safe out there!