Paddleboarding is one of the most enjoyable water sport that is played worldwide.
It is fun, especially playing it with a friend. Sometimes finding a way of getting two paddleboards to the ocean can be troublesome.
However, such hiccups should not stop you from having fun with friends.
If you have locking straps and a roof rack on your car, you can secure the boards and reach the ocean without damaging the boards during driving.
The roof rack has several different parts that are crucial when transporting paddleboards.
The other components provide the base where the paddleboards will be placed and where to tie the board’s straps.
The safety of your paddleboards is not dependent on how strong or sophisticated your roof rack is, but on the way, you will attach it to the roof rack.
It is vital to figure out whether you’re the roof racks can hold the paddleboards without any support, or they need support.
Roof racks with only two bars cannot hold two paddleboards safely. Disregarding this can be hazardous. The paddleboards can damage your vehicle’s roof.
How To Attach Two Paddle Boards To A Roof Rack
Here are the tips for transporting paddleboards on a roof rack:
- Do not over-bend your back when picking the paddleboard to avoid injuries and strains
- Beware of strong winds. If you do not attach the paddleboard to the roof rack tightly, it can be blown off. After tightening the paddleboard, it is advisable to counter check it before starting the journey.
- You can ask a friend to help you out if you find the task challenging. It costs nothing or consults or requests for help than tie it yourself and lose everything.
- If you want to transports more than one paddleboards simultaneously, stack them in order, with the longest one at the bottom
Essentials you should have to secure paddleboards on roof racks
Crossbar: the crossbars are racks running across the roof of your vehicle, which vary in size depending on your vehicle’s model.
Cam straps: these are strong straps used to hold the paddleboard in place. Cum straps should be long, at least 12 feet for optimum anchorage.
Padding: it is also called a rack. They form a base where the paddle boards can be safely placed.
Bow and stern lines: if you are a water sports enthusiast, buy no stretch ropes that are water-resistant to help you tie the paddleboards to the roof rack. The bow and stern are the safest attachments to use.
How then do you attach two paddleboards to a roof rack?
1. Ensure you have the equipment
You must have a roof rack and the locking straps. Roof racks can be purchased online or at the stores. A suitable roof rack should have at least two bars that cover the width of your car.
In order to prevent the scratching of the boards by the rack, you may purchase and attach a fabric cover.
Locking straps should also be purchased; you should have three locking straps that help to hold the boards during the drive. They can be bought at online surfing stores.
2. Laying the Paddleboard
The boards should be layed in a systemic manner. The fins should be facing upward, and the boards should be at the Center lying flat.
This will help maintain balance during the drive. In some situations, i.e., if the boards are of different lengths, always put the longer board at the base.
The second board is placed on top of the first board with fins facing upwards and the board slightly retracted to ensure the fins of the bottom board have room.
Another option of attaching the second board is by putting paddings on top of the first board so that the two boards won’t be in contact with each other.
This will also reduce the chances of boards’ destruction during the ride and especially in places with rough terrain.
Pool noodles or plumbing insulation work best as they do not create much of the gap between the two boats
Offset the boards, so the board on top sits just in front of the fin of the bottom board
3. Securing the boards
When securing, always start with the reachable side of the vehicle.
Thread the end without the buckle under the back crossbeam and pull it to ensure that both sides have an equal length.
You then throw the free end over the boards to the other side, do not throw the buckle end as it may damage the car .once at the other side, ensure that both sides of the straps are draped over the boards and are lying flat.
- Thread the strap to the bar on the other side of the rack. The buckle end should sit flat on the top board. Tow the free end of the strap to create some space before threading. Do not pull too much as the other side may get undone.
- Tighten and secure the buckle by feeding the strap end to the small opening on top of the buckle. Pull the free end to tighten the grip over the boards and press down on the tab on the hook to secure it
This process is repeated on the front bar of the roof rack
4. Attaching the safety strap
Straps are attached inside the car. Safety traps are essential when attaching more than one board to the vehicle.
They help in case the roof rack detaches from the vehicle.
Pass the free end of the strap over the board. Get into the car and pull the free end of the belt.
The strap should be wrapped entirely around the board and inside of the car. Note the doors of the car should be open when doing this.
Then tighten the strap inside the vehicle. This is achieved by taking the free end of the strap; you then insert it into the opening in the buckle.
Pull the open end to take the slack out of the belt and pull down the tab on the buckle to secure it tightly.
Close the doors of the vehicle, and your boards are now tightly secured in three separate places and should not fall off the vehicle during driving.
Closing the door on the strap also increases the grip and acts as a backup in case the buckle fails
How can I tie paddle boards safely on the roof rack?
- Keep your knots simple. When tying the paddleboard to the roof rack, make it very simple because complicating it to look cool risky. The ultimate goal is keeping the paddles safe, and that your sole business.
- Use a ladder if you reach the roof rack. If you are a short drive with an SUV, it can be impossible to tie the paddleboard to the roof rack without a step ladder. With the ladder, you can attach the paddleboard tightly in a much simpler way.
- Position the widest points of the swim gear between the cum straps. To prevent the paddleboard from swaying off the roof racks o the road, find the widest portion of the paddleboard and tie the section very tightly.
- Add a twist. A small twist on the straps will prevent it from vibrating while you are on the road. The rough roads can be the most annoying because of the uneven grounds.
- Lock the straps. Locking the cam straps is a safety protocol that you must adhere to when tying up your paddleboards. It not only gives you peace of mind when driving on the highway but also keeps the boards safe.
- Make regular stopovers to check the paddleboards while on transit. Conducting regular checkups is the surest confirmation that the boards are safe. This is the surest way of ensuring your paddleboards are safe.
