Surfing is a sport where you're often on the move to chase the adventure, and often the car is the best tool to get you around and find the sweet spots. Here are a few tips on how to transport your board in the safest and best way, and avoid dings and scratches, maybe even destroy your board during transportation (instead of in the water)
Here are a few tips on how to mount your board on the roof.
Starboard has made this video illustrating the best way to mount your board on your car.
Remember to use a good set of straps. See a good selection here. Important to tighten but not too hard. For example, it can be seen that straps with a ratchet handle (ratchet buckle) are used, which is not recommended! You can't feel how much pressure it gives, and very often it will give too much. Instead, make sure to use good wide straps, preferably with protection under the buckle. Combined with a good board bag that also distributes the pressure, and otherwise be very careful to ensure that the pressure of the buckle is evenly distributed. Often when you double the strap as instructed, there will be a difference in how tight the two straps are, make sure these are equal by distributing the pressure around the roof rack.
A foam protector on your roof bars is a very good investment that helps a lot. In addition to the board being non-slip on the roof rack, it also helps to act as a kind of cushion, so when tightened, pressure damage is not as easily created on the board as if it had been a bare hard roof rack. Powders are available for different models, see them here. When transporting SUP boards, make sure your foam is wide enough to cover the entire board, as the edges it rests on often stick up a little, which can cause pressure damage if you're not careful.
The foam protector also works really well as an intermediate layer if you have several boards on top of each other
Advantages:
- You can easily transport multiple boards
- All your friends can be in the car (or family)
- You can transport long boards
- Inflatable boards can be transported without punctures
Disadvantages:
- Cost of roof racks, good straps and foam
- Wind resistance
- Noise in the car (try twisting the straps on top of the board)
Alternative:
The easiest and most energy-friendly is to put your board in the car. This requires both a relatively short board or a long car. You put the passenger seat backrest all the way down, as well as part or all of the back seat, and lay your board(s) in the direction of travel.
Advantages:
- You can get on the water quickly
- Board bags stay dry in the rain
- You save the Wunderbaum scent for the car, as you get a nice scent from the wax on your board
Disadvantages:
- Wet surfboards in the car after surfing
- Chances of wax on car seats (remember Boardbag or Boardsock)
- Your surf buddy has to sit in the back seat or in another car
- Not safe to drive with if you have multiple boards and can't see out the side window properly.
Good luck getting out on your surfing adventure
