Hi guys,

I'm new to SUP and just informed myself on the proper way to transport a board.
I now ordered a Thule wing bar roof rack and straps.

It seems like soft rack pads are recommended, however the ones I have been able to find online don't fit on the wing bar.
Do you guys have a solution to that?

Should I transport the board in the board bag? If I put a second board on top, what kind of padding should then be used between the boards, or would using the bag for the bigger board solve both problems?

Hey!
Looks like lockrack doesn't fit on the wing bars either. Maybe that is just the wrong choice of bar for Thule roof racks when intending to transport SUP:s.

Get a couple of pool noodles and cut them up to suit.

You dont need brand name pads any reasonable quality padding will do.

ET.

Clark Rubber do an aero-foil section black pool noodle for just this purpose - about $25 from memory. Failing that they also do a range of pipe insulation tubes that are a lot softer than a pool noodle - they do a great job but will break down in the UV a little bit quicker than a noodle (mine lasted about two years, and cost about $15 for two) – they're easily stretched over aero bars.

Couldn't find the link to the aero noodles... but here's the pipe insulation:
www.clarkrubber.com.au/products/33887p-pipe-insulation

Naish do a great set. They open right up so will fit flatter racking systems and the ends are ties so you can really tension them tightly on the rack. about 20"/50cm (approx.). RRP $40 a pair. Available through your local Naish Dealer.





Ride safe,

JB

crazybula said...
I have wing bars on my van and use the Creatures of Leisure pads purchased on ebay cheap.

They fit fine.

Are they the ones called Creatures aero rax square in 28 inch size? There is also one called Creatures rax pad round bar, so I'm not sure which one to order.

Yes, I bought the 28inch square rack pads. Ignore the description, the Velcro flap fits the bars perfect.

With regards to padding between boards stacked on racks, a cover will serve as a minimum, but pool noodles are cheapest and most effective.

Especially with the variety of board shapes these days the noodle can be moved to accommodate different deck shapes and give proper padded separation where you need it most.

I have a Fanatic Falcon and it can be a bit of a bitch to stack with other boards when shuttling for DWers so the noodles are a godsend.

I also have the Thule Wing aero bars and the Da Kine aero roof rack pads fit them - just. Get the long ones.

DavidJohn said...
I heard that Dave Kalama uses the hollow pool noodles with the center filled with sand and corks or plugs in each end.. He uses these between boards and you can place them on the board and because of the weight they won't blow away while you load the next board on top.. Seems like a good idea..

Super awesome to be able to get so many tips from all of you!
What size of noodles should I get?

tightlines said..
I use pool noodles sliced in half length ways and taped permanently to my racks on my old Nissan.
Prob doesn't look the best but its only my old beach car.

As far as between boards goes I used to use pool noodles but as the wind is usually howling when we are loading for down winders they do blow away easily.
DJ's idea sounds like it would work but even easier are these "door snakes" that are designed to stop the wind draft coming through under doors, they are cheap as and they are filled with sand so are great for sticking between boards because they don't blow away.

www.bunnings.com.au/88cm-x-5-3cm-x-5-3cm-assorted-colour-door-snake_p3961723

The ones I have been able to find online seem to be filled with stones, which might not be suitable for padding? I'll see if I can find some with sand. Thanks for the idea.

To stack boards, just run a bungee through either a section of pipe cladding, or a roof rack pad, and then strap your first board down with that. Then repeat for as many boards as you like, then run a good quality strap over the whole bunch when you've finished. I regularly carry up to 5 14ft boards on downwinders that way.

This way, boards will not blow away while you are stacking them, and the padding between the boards will not move.

I use bungees that have a carabiner on each end, not a hook. Much safer. And I always carry different lengths for the different numbers of boards I am stacking.

1 board = 36"
2 boards = 48"
3 boards = 60"
4 boards = 72"
5 boards = don't need any more because the strap goes over this one (you'll often need a 6 or 7 metre set for 5 boards).

I think it's that black sponge tubing that you often see over pipes and often used in refrigerators.. People used to use it on their roof racks.. But if it's left on for too long the uv breaks it down and it ends up leaving black marks on your boards.. When used between boards this is not a problem..

The pipe lagging flattens out easier than pool noodles so you don,t have that big gap between boards, you can get it at mitre10, Bunnings etc. but no need to use if you already have a padded board cover

I've got a couple of boards with very similar rocker profiles – i still use pool noodles occasionally, but another option i've found - to keep everything that little bit lower - is to get a cheap yoga mat and cut it to shape if needed. And in my Ace GT i use a combo of that at the front and a couple of foam blocks in the dug-out at the rear, that way i can stack boards without crushing the rails.

And when it comes to stacking i always try and keep the noodles etc over the roof racks so that the forces go through a fixed point and not flexing the boards over a pivot area...