Transporting your Hornbeck
While there are many ways to attach a boat to a vehicle, we recommend the simple, efficient way Hornbeck Boats has been loading boats on cars for years. This is a result of years of repairs we have made on customer's boats due to improper transportation. A Hornbeck Boat should not be treated like a fiberglass canoe or a plastic kayak. While it is very durable on the water, damage can occur when certain forces are applied outside the boat's original design, off the water.
Every New boat comes with:
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12' NRS Buckle Bumper Straps
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Yakima Hood Anchors
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12' Nylon Bow Line
Straps
Do i need to use a bow line?
We recommend you use a bow line every time you transport your boat. It serves as your insurance policy. The straps are keeping your boat attached to the car, but the bow line is preventing anything catastrophic from happening, such as bars or tie down straps failing. This line limits sideways movement of the bow in the windstorm that is created as a vehicle travels at speed. It also prevents the hull from slipping backwards or the boat coming off the roof, which could injure those behind you. It also works as a visual cue, if a taut line begins to sag and flap around, it is a sign that something is happening to the boat and should be addressed before anything worse happens. Always pull over to a safe location to check things out.
Using Foam Blocks and Straps Through the car
is NOT recommended
Using J-racks, Hullavators, or cradles are NOT recommended
These are designed for kayaks. They all put specific points of pressure on the hull or don't allow for proper strapping. This leads to damage.
Recommended Transport Method
Hard Rack
A factory roof rack or aftermarket crossbars, with no additional rack accessories (such as cradles or pads) and a line off the front of the car is the safest and most secure method of transporting your Hornbeck.
When transporting more than one Hornbeck, it is important that the crossbars be long enough that each boat can still fit flat upside down. the rule of thumb is the minimum length of bar needed is the width of the boat plus 2".
Ex. 2x 12' Classics (30.5" Beam) + 2x(2")= min bar length of 65"
A hard rack is made up of three main components:
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Crossbars – the horizontal bars that carry your gear
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Towers – the supports that hold the crossbars in place
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Clips – vehicle-specific pieces that connect the towers securely to your roof.
Vehicle Fit Matters
Rack components vary based on your vehicle’s make, model, and year. While crossbars can often be reused when you change vehicles, you will typically need new clips and sometimes new towers to ensure a proper, secure fit.
Vehicles with Raised Roof Rails
If your vehicle has raised roof rails (you can slide your hand underneath the rail), it usually offers the simplest and most cost-effective rack solution, since fewer vehicle-specific parts are required.
Rack Availability & Fit Check
We stock a wide selection of Yakima rack parts for the vehicles we see most often, but we do not carry components for every make and model. Some vehicles—especially very new models or less common vehicles—may not yet have a confirmed rack fit available.
If you’re interested in purchasing a roof rack, please give us a call at 518-251-2764. We’ll look up the make, model, and year of your vehicle to determine the correct parts and confirm whether they’re currently in stock.
Next Best Thing
Soft Rack
A soft rack is the recommended alternative to a hard rack and is different from a basic foam block setup(see above). It features a reinforced foam base with built-in lashing points that straps directly to your vehicle. Your boat then straps securely to the rack itself.
Why Choose a Soft Rack?
The integrated lashing points allow the straps to wrap snugly around the sides of the boat, greatly reducing the risk of shifting or sliding that can occur with simple foam blocks and loose straps. Soft racks are also significantly more affordable than hard racks and can be easily moved from one vehicle to another.
Things to Consider
Soft racks do have a few limitations:
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They must be installed and removed each time you transport a boat
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They are designed to carry only one boat at a time
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In heavy rain, the straps can wick water into the vehicle
Available In Store
Yakima’s soft rack, the EasyTop, is available for purchase in our store.
Securing Your Boat When You’re Away
If you’re staying overnight at a hotel or leaving your vehicle unattended—such as during work before an evening paddle—locking your boat to your roof rack helps deter theft.
At Hornbeck Boats, we’ve found that the Suspenz TieYak works especially well for securing the boat to a roof rack and provides added peace of mind when you’re away from your vehicle.
