Installation Instructions for Soft Surfboard Racks

When surf's up, most surfers mount their surfboards on the tops of cars. Some surfers drill holes and mount permanent racks to their roofs. Usually, though, the racks are "soft racks." Soft racks are padded and can be made of some combination of aluminum, rubber, various foams and nylons straps.

Things You'll Need

  • Soft racks
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Open all car doors. Open the rear, side windows if you have a two-door car.

    • 2

      Lay one soft rack across the front of your car roof just above your windshield. Lay the second soft rack on the back of your car roof above the rear door or rear, side window.

    • 3

      Position the racks so that no metal buckles or hooks will scratch your car's roof. Let the long straps on each end of both racks hang off your roof. Most soft racks have long and short straps.

    • 4

      Hold the end of one long strap for the front rack and sit in your car. Lean across the inside of your car and grab the second strap. Buckle and tighten the strap.

    • 5

      Position any hardware on the long straps inside your car. Some soft racks have metal hardware that hook to the inside of your door frame.

    • 6

      Tighten the long straps on the front rack as tightly as possible. Strap the rear rack to the top of your car using the same procedures you used to strap on the front rack. If you have a two door car, sit in the back seat and pull the long straps through the rear windows.

    • 7

      Lay the surfboard or surfboards on the racks fin side up. Secure the boards to the soft rack with the short straps by buckling and tightening the short straps. Stand on the car seats to tighten the short straps on top of the roof if you are short.