# transporting my Chesapeake **URL:** \ **Category:** Builder's Forum\ **Created:** [September 22, 2016, 10:51pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/transporting-my-chesapeake/44662 "2016-09-22T22:51:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mike\_Bennett1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@Mike\_Bennett1](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Mike_Bennett1)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 10:51pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/transporting-my-chesapeake/44662/1 "2016-09-22T22:51:15Z")
I have had a plastic kayak for years, I never gave transportation much thought, just tied it on the roof for any given situtuation. Now I will have a boat that means a bit more to me, is there a best way to transport it on the roof of a car. On its side? Right side up? Do you have a favorite rack? Thanks, MIke   ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Hyder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Mike\_Hyder](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Mike_Hyder)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/transporting-my-chesapeake/44662/2 "2016-09-29T22:10:24Z")
As a precaution - make sure your cockpit cover is somehow secured so it will not blow off. Mine blew off my Wood Duck and I lost a foam seat but luckily the cover was tied to my deck rigging. (maybe I was speeding.)    ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Bennett1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@Mike\_Bennett1](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Mike_Bennett1)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 10:22am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/transporting-my-chesapeake/44662/3 "2016-09-30T10:22:50Z")
Canuck, a good tip. Utah has 80MPH highway speed limits (129KPH if you are north of the border:) so I suspect some type of tie-down for the cover would be in order.     Mike ---
**Author:** ![Ralph\_Lambert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@Ralph\_Lambert](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Ralph_Lambert)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 10:35am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/transporting-my-chesapeake/44662/4 "2016-09-23T10:35:06Z")
   I've transported my kayaks right side up, upside down, and in a J-cradle. It  depended on the vehicle, if the vehicle came with a rack, if I was moving 1 or 2 kayaks (or a canoe & kayak). With my current car & if I am just moving one kayak I transport upright using foam pads and straps going through the car doors. I always try some sort of bow & stern line also. I have used Thule racks but the ones I have do not fit my current car, and I have Yakima J-cradles because I got them on clearance. But they don't fit my current van so I have them attached to oak 1x2 inch cross-bars that I tie to the rack on the Van.  What I am saying is I have no major preference but use what works at the time with what I have. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Bennett1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@Mike\_Bennett1](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Mike_Bennett1)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/transporting-my-chesapeake/44662/5 "2016-09-23T15:26:26Z")
   Thanks, Ralph ---
**Author:** ![David\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@David\_Finch](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/David_Finch)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 6:58pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/transporting-my-chesapeake/44662/6 "2016-09-24T18:58:27Z")
![J-rack](http://i68.tinypic.com/2iveo78.jpg)  HikeAZ, My wife & I transport two chesapeake kayaks on her car quite frequently. The crossbars are from Yakima (Thule crossbars would work just as well). The J-rack attachments are the stainless steel version from Packemracks.com The Packem racks are significantly less expensive than the name brand j-rack options.  I secure the boats to the j-racks with 1" NRS tie-down cinch straps and use taglines front and rear. No problems at highway speeds(70-80mph), the boats hardly seem to move at all.   ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Bennett1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@Mike\_Bennett1](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Mike_Bennett1)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 4:22pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/transporting-my-chesapeake/44662/7 "2016-09-25T16:22:01Z")
SignsEHT, Thanks, a beautiful boat. It looks like you added a little padding between the J-rack and the boat. I will check out Packemracks. Mike    ---
**Author:** ![David\_Poole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@David\_Poole](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/David_Poole)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/transporting-my-chesapeake/44662/8 "2016-09-26T16:01:13Z")
I transport the in cradles when ever possible.  My selected system is the Yakima system.  I've mounted racks on trucks, cars and the top of a pop-top camper. .  One prefered system is the one on the truck. I carry the kayaks up right. I usually cover my cockpit with a cover. The wife's kayak covered "whomps" so we don't often put the cover on unless it looks like a big rain.  I use "hully rollys" on the rear to assist in loading the kayaks. The truck is a lot of places truck with suspension and tires to match.  I also carry a three step stool.  Note that if you get enough space between the bars, this one is 6 feet, you don't need the bow and stern tie downs.  Cars and vans often have racks more designed for short things.     [URL=http://s738.photobucket.com/user/GrumpyOldBakerman/media/biolumen%208%20-15\_zps3jtlkv6y.jpg.html][IMG]http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx24/GrumpyOldBakerman/biolumen%208%20-15\_zps3jtlkv6y.jpg[/IMG][/URL] I have since moved the front rack foward over the cab to allow more support and less cantiliver on the kayaks when moved foward to give clearance for the trailer. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Poole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@David\_Poole](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/David_Poole)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/transporting-my-chesapeake/44662/9 "2016-09-26T16:35:57Z")
   Third time ought to do it....................This is the camp site at a biolumenscent paddle last summer.   ![](http://i64.tinypic.com/30jl9h3.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Nye](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/forum.clcboats.com/mark_nye/32/18_2.png) [@Mark\_Nye](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Mark_Nye)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 7:39am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/transporting-my-chesapeake/44662/10 "2016-09-27T07:39:41Z")
I use the foam blocks from Malone (sold here) on rails.  I load by carrying the kayak on my shoulder as I go up a three step stool onto the tailgate.  The exception is that I use a set of Hulli Rollers on the aft rail when transporting our 79# Shearwater Double.  We take the cockpit covers off when driving.  It is amazing how little water will accumilate in the cockpit at highway speeds even in heavy rain.  Hereis a pict from yesterday before heading to John Pennekamp.  Today is Bahia Honda. ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bLNozPX8cLOli_TDUg5sabx59wqIa64TI86Sg9IinOrFc3CXDaqiL3YpP8JnKRJuNw6SoaJ-yw=w1708-h960-no)   ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Bennett1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@Mike\_Bennett1](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Mike_Bennett1)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/transporting-my-chesapeake/44662/11 "2016-09-27T20:52:43Z")
   Thanks, I have always used a J-rack but think I may try upright carry. I will start looking at options that will work for my RAV4.   Mike   ---
**Author:** ![David\_Poole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@David\_Poole](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/David_Poole)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 12:36pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/transporting-my-chesapeake/44662/12 "2016-09-30T12:36:16Z")
   Good point about the cover. Mine have a strap and clip foward to rigging plus a strap with buckle around the middle that goes all the way around the boat and over the cover.  The cover keeps things from blowing out and things from crawling/flying in. For some reason bugs like the inside of my cockpits.  Rain under way is minor. Rain sitting upright in the parking lot in the south can be impressive. . I know a couple of kayakers that put covers on during lunch stops on a paddle to keep things out of the cockpit.