School of Rack | Kayak Carriers - J-Cradle Kayak Racks / Saddles / Stackers / Boat Trailers

There are many different options for transporting kayaks. Your decision will be based on a number of factors, such as the number of kayaks you plan to carry and the length of your roof rack crossbars, the length of your boat, and even the length of your body. If you’re not especially tall, or are unable to lift a kayak on your own, there are many boat lift-assist options available. For this lesson, we are focusing on J-style kayak cradles, kayak saddles, kayak stackers, boat trailers and a new family of direct-to-naked-roof kayak carriers. So let's get started and please make sure your cell phone is turned off!

J-Cradle Kayak Racks tilt the kayak on its side and support the boat in a pair of padded, J-shaped cradles. The kayaks are then strapped into the cradles with load straps. With certain models, the upper support arms can be folded down when not in use to improve clearance when driving into garages and low overhangs, as well as improve aerodynamics.
» all j-cradle style kayak racks

Pros:

• Space Saving: Because kayaks are tilted on their side, you save more space on your roof rack crossbars, enabling you to attach more than one set of j-cradle kayak racks or attaching other gear carriers such as bike racks, cargo box etc.
• Compatibility: Most j-cradle style kayak carriers come out of the box ready to mount to virtually all factory crossbars as well as to Yakima, Thule, Inno and other after-market roof rack crossbars. The quick mounting hardware makes them easily switchable between vehicles too.

Cons:

• Loading / Unloading: Lift assist options are limited with j-cradles. Many j-cradles do include an integrated ramp at the base of the cradle to make it easier to slide the kayak into the cradle. The general lifting process is to place one end of kayak into one cradle and then lift the other side of the kayak, allowing the side that's already in the cradle to do the 'heavy' lifting for you.
• Height Clearance: When not in use, non-folding cradles remain upright, affecting your ability to drive into garages and low overhangs. Folding j-cradle kayak racks are now available however.

Kayak Saddle Racks carry kayaks flat on their bottoms (hull side down) rather than on their sides. Some kayak saddles have gliding or rolling features, while others have gripping features. Often times, a gliding or rolling set (mounted to the rear crossbar) will be paired with a gripping set (mounted to the front crossbar). Load straps are used to tighten the boats down.
» all kayak saddles

Pros:

• Affordability: The basic kayak saddles are the least expensive way to carry boats.
• Ease of Loading: When paired with a set of gliding saddles or rolling saddles on the rear crossbar, boats can be rolled or slid very easily into place, making it effortless for one person to load a kayak.
• Stability: Especially concerning larger, wider kayaks, such as sit-on-top models or tandems, saddles are the most stable way to transport boats.
• Low Profile: Saddles sit fairly low on vehicle roof tops and do not drastically affect low overhang clearance.

Cons:

• Possible Crossbar Space Issue: Because kayaks are transported flat on their hulls, more crossbar space is used, potentially limiting the number of carriers that can be mounted. This is especially true for factory racks, where you do not have the option to increase the length of the crossbars as you do when using an after-market multi-purpose base roof rack system from Yakima, Thule, Inno etc.

Kayak Stackers require the boat to be loaded completely on its side, perpendicular to the roof rack crossbars, as opposed to tilted slightly as in a J-Cradle. Boats are strapped against the support arms with load straps. With certain models, the upper support arms can be folded down when not in use to improve clearance when driving into garages and low overhangs. Kayak Stacker racks are generally only recommended for use with white-water kayaks, which are much smaller than flat-water kayaks.
» Thule 830 'The Stacker' kayak rack
» Yakima BigStack kayak rack
» Yakima Kayak Stacker

Pros:

• Affordability: Because of their simplistic nature, stackers are relatively affordable.
• Capacity: Boats can be "stacked" against each other, allowing for maximum boat carrying capacity, up to six boats with the longest crossbars.
• Space Saving: Because kayaks are carried on their sides, you save more space on your crossbars, enabling you to optionally use other gear carriers, such as bike racks, cargo box etc., at the same time.

Cons:

• Incompatibility: Because of the limited support they offer, stackers aren’t recommended for kayaks longer than 11 feet.
• Loading: Boats need to be held against the upright support posts while being strapped down, which can sometimes be cumbersome, especially when loading alone.
• Height Clearance: When not in use, non-folding stackers remain upright, affecting your ability to drive into garages and low-overhangs.

Additional Rooftop Kayak Rack Options are also available for vehicles without roof rack crossbars, allowing for the transport of a kayak on a naked roof. These models use methods such as an inflatable set of "crossbars", roof pads that rest on the cartop and also rooftop foam blocks. All are used with a set of straps that run through the inside of the vehicle and back over top of the roof to hold the "inflatable" pads, soft cushion pads, and foam blocks in place. Kayaks are then placed on top of these carriers and strapped down.
» all cheap kayak racks

Pros:

• No Crossbars, No Problem: Affordable solution to carrying kayaks on vehicles without crossbars. Great option as a roof rack for rental cars too.

Cons:

• Security: Because these kayak rack models are strapped to your car, versus mounted onto roof rack crossbars, they are not the most secure way to carry your boat. Some do have integrated locking straps however.
• Interior Interference: The straps that hold these carriers on run through the inside of the vehicle and can mess up a Marge Simpson style beehive hairdo.

Kayak Trailers are towable and mount to universal tow hitch balls.
» all boat trailers

Pros:

• No Crossbars, No Problem: You don’t have to worry about rooftop crossbars.
• Maximum Overall Carrying Capacity: If you do have a rooftop rack system, you can load it up with other types of gear/equipment because kayaks are on the boat trailer.
• Ease of Loading / Unloading: Minimal lifting is required to load and unload your boat.

Cons:

• Cost: Trailers are the most expensive method of transporting boats.
• Incompatibility: Trailers only work with vehicles that have a tow hitch installed.
• Profile: Use of trailer extends the length of your vehicle, limiting your parking options.
• Vulnerability: Kayaks are exposed to more hazards (other vehicles, telephone poles, etc) than they are on a car rooftop.

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