putting surfboard on roof rack

[wiiiiilllll]

i worry way to much about my surfboard when its on my roof rack and im driving to the beach. What is the best way to secure it to the roof, i worry that fixing it too tightly might damage it but i want it to stay there. Imagine the chaos if it fell off the roof when driving at 70mph

[sinistapenguin]

I once strapped 32 assorted pop-outs (owned by the Southampton Uni Surf Club) to the roof of a minibus using only their leashes - they survived the 4 hr drive without even moving.

I would say that if you strap it down properly it's not going anywhere.

The way I do it is this:

I TIE my straps round the roof bar so that the 'metal end' is long enough to reach up onto the flat part of my board.

I then loop the long end of the strap over the board, under the bar and back over the board, feed it through the metal clip and pull it tight. If you TIE it at the start, you can get it real tight here - it won't hurt your board through a bag!!

[drowningbitbybit]

Get some foam lagging to go round the roof-rack to give the board something soft to lay on.

Get a boardbag if you havent already got one.

Tying it down with bungees will do the job, and wont harm the board as long as you dont pull them too tight. Straps made out of material and a buckle to tighten them are the best bet though.

Put the board face down, with the fins at the front of the vehicle - that way, the board is facing 'down' into the car and has the least chance of being hit by a stone or whatever, and should the board start to slide backwards, the fins should get stuck in the bungee/strap and not fly backwards at 70mph!

Thats about all you need to know, I think, about carrying a board on a roof rack!

[drowningbitbybit]

Hi Sinista - surfing the web at lunchtime and simultaneously replying again then?

[wiiiiilllll]

coool, thanks for the help

[WaveJunkie]

Some perspective here --

You have $500 -- $1,000 into your stick, besides a lot of personal attachment.

I head to the local hardware/building supply, and get dense foam pipe insulation. 1" diameter typically works on most roof racks. This stuff is CHEAP. The stuff I found is split down the center with adhesive on both edges. You snake it onto the roof rack and then pull off the tape covering the adhesive and it adheres -- either to the rack (I have a square bar ladder rack.) or to itself. Cheap, like $6.00 for four 3' sections of 1" diameter. Places like Home Depot sell it for even less. I've run them through a car wash a couple times. They stay put.

Straps -- Dakine sells 15' web straps with a cam-cinch buckle. I have two sets of these straps, 10 yrs old, used for a kayak. They're like new. I think I paid about $15 for the set. Good money spent.

Set the board on the roof rack. Run the strap over the board, around the beam on the roof rack, across the board again, around the beam on the other side of the board, up to the cinch buckle. Pull taut.

Web straps don't stretch, flex. Cinch buckles secure the board. Bungies with hooks can come loose. Invest in straps and padding for the rack.

Finally -- Get a board bag. I think $75 for my bag. Keeps the board out of the sun, the weather, the crap flying around on the highway. Also, pads the board on the rack, allows you to cinch down the web straps and not ding up the board.

So, lets do the math:

$6.00 for foam rack cushions.
$15.00 for straps.
$75.00 for a board bag.

Thats $101.00 -- doesn't wear out. Protects your board. You have $500 - $1000 into your board, another $250 into your wetsuit, boots, gloves . . .

A tank of gas to get you to the beach these days is $25 -- $50 depending on what you're driving.

$100 to keep your board secure on the roof. Money well spent.

[sinistapenguin]

You could spend loads of money on Da Kine straps, but Wilkinsons will sell you a pack of 2 for £2.99!!

I've had a pair of these for 7 years!!

Enjoy!

Sinista

[wiiiiilllll]

hahahahahahaa, my dakine straps came in the post today...oops. I got some nice dakine camo pads for my roof bars too. im pimpin' now!

[WaveJunkie]

Yes, cam-cinch straps are available at auto supply shops, also builder supply/hardware. Probably cheaper than Dakine -- but Dakine is what the shop had, there and then . . . and I had the $15.

"Pimpin'" -- hadn't heard that term in a while!

I think a board bag is worth every penny. Besides keeping your board clean, safe, padded, you can sleep in them. They make a decent mat on the beach too, for lying on.

[sinistapenguin]

Wave - I wasn't having a go at you, I just think that people like Da Kine overcharge a bit for a strap. Talk about paying for the name!!

[wiiiiilllll]

i got a board bag half price when i got my surfboard =D

the pads looks rad on my car but im gona take them off later coz i can see some crappy chav stealing them.