How to Carry Surfboards on the Roof of a Vehicle

Last Updated: November 17, 2021

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

1
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.^{[1]
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2
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.

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3
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.^{[2]
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4
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.^{[3]
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5
Give the board a solid "shake" to make sure the board will not shift in the rack.^{[4]
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6
Always tie-off excess strap. Never let it flap in the wind.
7
Be careful not to over-tighten straps as this can damage surfboards.^{[5]
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Warnings

Always place your board fins up on the rack.

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A surfboard creates its own lift.

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Never, never put unsecured boards in the bed of a truck.

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