How do I carry a kayak on top of my Ford Mustang?

Question

I am considering purchasing a one person kayak and I think I should be able to lug it around on top of my Mustang... Any advice on how to proceed in a safe manner? I am not ready to change vehicles!

Answer 1

For frequent use, spring for a quality rack by Thule or Yakima, they are the good ones. They each offer all sorts of attachments for skiis, yaks, bikes, etc. Check their websites or go to a better outdoors store like REI.

For occasional use, or to travel light, get pre-formed foam saddles from a kayak shop (or carve them from a kid's water noodle). And two REALLY GOOD straps. 20-foot straps will all the way around the boat and through your windows. The ones I use are from NRS and are rated for 1000 pounds. Get them good and tight around the middle of the boat, as close to 1/3's and 2/3s of its length as you can. Anyone who ties down the bow and stern isn't doing it correctly - you bend the boat. Compressing the boat to the roof makes it very secure.

Answer 2

you could buy a roof rack, but the way i tie a kayak to my compact car is...

buy a couple of the water noodles, the foam tubes that your kids play with in the pool. cut and use these to keep the kayak from scratching the top of your car.

now, get come rope, or tie downs and tie through the doors, and around the kayak. sinch it tight. if you have enough rope, and some ties on the front/back of kayak, then maybe tie under frame, or back where the trailer hitch would be.

don't change vehicles. just find a good way that works. may take a few times of trying. good luck!

Answer 3

do it the trucker red neck way its the cheapest way go to lowes get a few flat bed staps with hooks on the end and a large pice of stiroform put the stiroform on the roof of the car put the kayak on top of it roll ur windows down throw the strap over the kayak hook the hooks toghter in the middle tighten it up a bit and away u go

Answer 4

buy a roof rack