How to Put a 14-Foot Kayak on the Roof Rack of a 2010 Subaru Outback

The 2010 Subaru Outback has a roof rack of sorts, but no front and rear transverse rails to support a kayak so that it doesn't rest on the paint. You'll need something to support the body of the boat to keep it from rubbing against the paint. This simple solution allows you to quickly strap a 14 foot kayak to the roof.

  1. Padding

    • Make a pair of Styrofoam rings from two hollow-cored Styrofoam swim noodles available at any big box store or pool supply. Cut two 12-inch long pieces of 1 inch PVC pipe. Bend one noodle into a circle and stick one pipe into the open holes in the ends of the noodle. Push the ends together to form a circle and zip tie the ends to the pipe. Do the other one the same way. Make sure the joints of the zip ties face outside.

    Boat Position

    • Place the rings front to back on the roof of the Subaru. Turn the kayak upside down and set it on top of the rings so that they support the front and back edges of the kayak cockpit. If the bottom of your boat is flatter than the top, position the kayak upright. The kayak will extend about three feet behind the vehicle. Hang a red flag from the rear painter ring. A painter is a line attached to the stem and stern of a boat through a ring attachment.

    Tie-Down Position

    • Use three tie-downs -- a heavy bungee cord and two ratcheting tie-down straps. Bungee the kayak to the side rails of the Outback's roof rack to hold it in place. Hook the tie-down strap end hooks to the manufacturing tow rings attached to the frame just below the front and rear bumpers. Run the strap through the painter rings on the stem and stern of the kayak.

    Tie-Down Procedure

    • Tighten the rear strap until there is slight pressure on the stern of the boat. Tighten the front strap till it just pulls tight. Cut two pieces of Styrofoam noodle into 8 inch lengths. Slice them halfway through lengthwise to the hollow core. Wrap each noodle around one of the front straps and position it where the strap touches the hood of the Subaru. The rear strap should clear any painted surfaces. Ratchet the tie-downs tighter by two cranks at a time till the straps are tight, but not so tight you warp the roof of the vehicle. Pad the ratchet handle when you are done if it's close to the back of the vehicle.

    Precautions

    • Stop about 15 to 20 minutes after you start driving with the kayak in place. Check the tie-downs and tighten them as needed. Driving will cause the boat to shift some and may loosen some tie-downs. Recheck the tie-downs at each stop.