How do I transport my kayak on a vehicle?

How do I transport my kayak on a vehicle?

When transporting your kayak / SUP, take care to avoid potential damage or distortion to the hull.  A good rack system allows you to transport your craft on your vehicle safely and securely.  When transporting a composite FG or thermoformed ABS, you will want to add some foam padding to your roof rack or invest in a padded cradle. Remember… damage caused by flying off cars and/or deformations caused during transport are not covered by the warranty.


  • To avoid loss or damage, remove all accessories before transport.
  • For your safety and to avoid unnecessary scratches on your car, all but the shortest crafts should be car-topped by two people, and a quality roof rack should be used. Practice common sense lifting techniques using your legs, not your back-to raise the craft onto the rack.
  • Once the craft is on the roof rack, use a pair of straps or ropes to secure its mid section to the roof rack.  Boat should be secure but take care not to overtighten.
  • Each end of the kayak should be tied to the bumpers of the vehicle. However, be careful not to cinch these bow and stern lines too tight. 
  • Also to avoid deformation, do not leave the craft tied to the vehicle foran extended period of time or in the hot sun.
  • If your kayak extends more than 3.5 feet (1 meter) behind your vehicle attach ared flag to its hanging extremity to alert fellow motorists.  To transport multiple kayaks, use a stacking bar and appropriate padding, placing each kayak on its side, with hull against hull to prevent deformation.
  • After a long day on the water, DON’T FORGET OUR KAYAK IS STRAPPED ON THE ROOF. You do not want to drive into the garage withit still on the rack. It may sound strange… but it happens.

    • Related Articles

    • How to set up and use your Beluga Car Carry Kit

      In this 5 min video we show you the contents, set up and use of the car carry kit to tie your kayak onto the roof of your car securely. This kit can be used in conjunction with your roof rack or directly on your car. The car carry kit is perfect for ...
    • How do I assemble and install my Riot, Azul or Beluga J-Cradle Kayak Carrier on my roof rack?

      in this 4 min video we show you the parts and steps needed to assemble and mount your two kayak cradles on your roof racks. For demo on how to tie the kayak on to a cradle please check out the last part of this video and skip to min 5:00: ...
    • How do I install a Kayak Wall Rack?

      Please view / download the PDF instructions below for guidelines on how to install your Kayak Wall Rack. Some overall guidelines are: • You want a minimum of 15 inches (38 cm)of kayak to extend over the racks on each side. There are no set rule so ...
    • How do I assemble the Beluga Kayak Boat Roller?

      Please see the attached document for steps in assembling your Kayak Boat Roller with instructions for use with pictures. Stay tuned for the product video next!
    • How to secure the rudder for transport?

      We show you in this video how to use the bungee loop to secure your rudder in place when not in use or when transporting your kayak (so as not to damage your precious rudder). Use the pull tab on the bungee to loop it overtop of the rudder to secure ...