This is an simple and easy way to strap one or several surf or SUP boards to the top of a car that does not have hard racks using foam pads and two straps. The foam blocks are available at: www.blueplanetsurf.com/blue-planet-eva-foam-blocks-for-car-roof-pair-30-x.html
If you can't or don't want to invest in a hard roof rack, this a quick and easy way to strap your stand up paddle boards to your car roof. We have used this method hundreds of times for rental customers renting SUP's from our shop and if used properly it is a great way to transport your boards. Some advantages over soft racks that have pads that strap onto your roof and separate straps to hold the board onto the pads: This method will be more secure because the board has less play, you can tighten it down better as the straps pull the board down directly onto the pads. Also the wide, stiff foam pads spread out the load better and you can place them where the roof is stiffer, close to the window frames. With a soft rack, you have to place them on the soft part of the roof where it can easily dent the metal. Also, the board is not strapped directly through the car and has more play, so it is harder to strap it down securely.
Safety tips: always put the strap through the buckle from the bottom up. Place the board so you can see it while driving and keep an eye on it, if it moves around, pull over and secure it properly. Always be safe and enjoy, Aloha!
Explanation as to why this system works better than standard soft racks:
The EVA block with straps over the boards and through the car will work better than regular soft racks as you can strap your boards down tight without the movement that's unavoidable with the standard soft racks that have one set of straps that go around the roof and then a separate set of straps holding the board onto the pads, making it almost impossible to get the the board tightened down properly. The EVA blacks shown allow you to tighten the board(s) down directly onto the car roof, which keeps it from moving around. If you have soft racks where to board is flopping around, you could add an extra strap in the front wrapping over the boards and through the car to tighten them down better and keep them from lifting up in the front when driving. The other issues with standard soft racks are that the pads are often not thick enough to keep the board from touching a curved car roof and also that you cannot place the pads where the car roof is stiffer, closer to the window frame. Soft Racks end up over the car doors in the middle of the roof where it has little support and tends to get dented easily.
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