# What's the cheapest and best way to do this? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 11, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-and-best-way-to-do-this/692851 "2014-07-11T14:09:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-and-best-way-to-do-this/692851/1 "2014-07-11T14:09:28Z")
I really want to go kayaking this summer. I have an 85 pound kayak that I can’t put on the roof of my car. Should I buy a collapsible kayak, buy a new car, or have my roof reinforced? I have tried roof racks, they didn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-and-best-way-to-do-this/692851/2 "2014-07-11T15:04:52Z")
I find it difficult to imagine that any car roof, unless it’s a convertible, can’t support 85 pounds. Can’t you just lay some urethane padding on the roof and tie it down? How would you propose reinforcing the roof anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-and-best-way-to-do-this/692851/3 "2014-07-11T15:10:48Z")
I can’t imagine what kind of kayak you have that wouldn’t be accommodated by one of these [Yakima products](http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=yakima+kayak+racks&tag=mh0b-20&index=aps&hvadid=1675845428&ref=pd_sl_8cx43d0qec_e). I have the Mako type, and carry two kayaks on my Honda Civic. ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-and-best-way-to-do-this/692851/4 "2014-07-11T15:11:00Z")
I weigh ~150 and if I sit up there it leaves a large dent, which slowly springs back. That makes me very nervous about putting the kayak up on the roof. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-and-best-way-to-do-this/692851/5 "2014-07-11T16:04:33Z")
85 pounds? Is it a tandem or made out of wood? That’s a heavy boat. When I had a Jeep Wrangler with a soft top I would just throw a kayak in, hanging out the back with a bandana tied on. Then I got a [roof-rack made for a soft top Jeep.](http://www.jcwhitney.com/roof-rack-and-carriers/jeep-wrangler/c1516d1202j1s21.jcwx) ETA: [Towing a little trailer is another idea.](http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showReviews.html?prod=1668) ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-and-best-way-to-do-this/692851/6 "2014-07-11T16:13:56Z")
Have you tried roof racks that were designed for your type of car? Why do you say roof racks didn’t work? Do you have a Smart Car, or something? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-and-best-way-to-do-this/692851/7 "2014-07-11T16:25:02Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Do you have a Smart Car, or something? I know a guy who tows an ultralight one kayak trailer with a smart car. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-and-best-way-to-do-this/692851/8 "2014-07-11T16:30:42Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I know a guy who tows an ultralight one kayak trailer with a smart car. The Yakima racks I use on my Civic would probably work on a Smart Car, too. The only thing I really think they wouldn’t work on is a rag top. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2014, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-and-best-way-to-do-this/692851/9 "2014-07-12T00:26:25Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > I weigh ~150 and if I sit up there it leaves a large dent, which slowly springs back. That makes me very nervous about putting the kayak up on the roof. The kayak’s weight won’t be concentrated in one spot as you were when sitting there. I remember that they used to sell rubber pieces that slipped over the gunwales of a canoe so you could carry it on your roof upside down. Wouldn’t work on a kayak, but I’ll bet a piece of urethane foam would work. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-and-best-way-to-do-this/692851/10 "2014-07-14T00:45:17Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > I weigh ~150 and if I sit up there it leaves a large dent, which slowly springs back. That makes me very nervous about putting the kayak up on the roof. The proper roof rack applies the weight onto the stiff part at the edge. You just need the proper roof rack. It may have be to professionally attached, as in permanently attached footings. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-and-best-way-to-do-this/692851/11 "2014-07-14T18:37:32Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > The proper roof rack applies the weight onto the stiff part at the edge. > > You just need the proper roof rack. It may have be to professionally attached, as in permanently attached footings. The one I have can be installed and removed in a few minutes.