Carry Surfboards on the Roof of a Vehicle
A surfboard on the roof of a car can act like the wing of an airplane. G-force, lift and drag all come into play. A board flying off a vehicle can become a deadly missile.
Steps
- Securely attach racks to the vehicle. If the racks are so-called "soft racks," they should consist of more than just a web strap that wraps around the vehicle.
- Straps that wrap around the rack and surfboard must be inspected for worn or weak spots. Buckles on the straps should be the cam-spring type and not d-ring style. No-Rust zinc buckles are preferred.
- Place the surfboard with the fin(s) up and forward on the rack. This reduces "lift" and the surfboard fins will act as a "stop" to prevent the board from sliding backwards off the rack.
- Wrap the straps through the side-rails (around the cross-bars) of the rack and over the top of the surfboard(s) then around the cross-bars on the other side. Make sure the strap buckle is not on the rail of the surfboard. Each strap should cross the board twice. Repeat for other cross-bar.
- Give the board a solid "shake" to make sure the board will not shift in the rack.
- Always tie-off excess strap. Never let it flap in the wind.
- Be careful not to over-tighten straps as this can damage surfboards
Tips
- Check tightness regularly if driving any long distance. If stacking boards, be careful not to ding the tail of the top board with the fin of the bottom board. Pay attention to rockers as to not ding the bottom deck of one with the nose of another. DO NOT speed!
- Remove leashes from boards before placing them in racks.
- A half-twist in the strap will prevent strap hum.
- Between surfboards, use a board separator to prevent wax transfer, board movement or crushing decks.
Warnings
- Always place your board fins up on the rack.
- A surfboard creates its own lift.
- Never, never put unsecured boards in the bed of a truck.
Things You'll Need
- Strong roof racks
- Secure poly webbing straps with Zinc Buckles and buckle pads
