Watersports are becoming increasingly popular but it can be difficult transporting the various pieces of equipment needed. From kayaks, surfboards and canoes to the necessary paddles, oars or masts; the majority of watersports equipment tends to be pretty bulky. In order to transport your watersport equipment to your favourite beaches and lakes you will need suitable watersport carriers. More often than not you're concerned with two things, saving space inside your car, and making sure that your equipment is always secure. There's a multitude of options available but at the very least you will require some roof racks. One thing to keep in mind is to make sure the racks you're buying are suitable for your car. We've made this process simple for you on MicksGarage by only listing roof racks suited to you particular car make and model. Below we've highlighted some of the watersports carriers and equipment we sell here in MicksGarage to help you decide what suits your needs best and give you a better understanding of what is available.
Watersport Carriers
Transporting surfboards / SUP boards - While it's very possible to strap your surfboard directly to your roof rack sometimes it's not the only thing you might have to transport so you have to be smart with the space available on the roof of your car. Also, there are a number of holders available that protectively cushion your surfboard or SUP board so if you've spent a substantial amount of money on buying your board you'll want to protect it as best you can. The Thule 832 can hold up to two boards and is suitable for both square load bars and aero bars. Your boards will be cradled between rubber holders and secured in place with straps on each of the bars. For combination carriers there is the Thule 833 or Thule 533 depending on which roof bar type you have on your car. These carriers combine a board holder and paddle or mast holder together so you don't need a separate holder. These were developed and tested by surfers for surfers it is a safe and stable carrier for both sail and surfboards, widely used by surfers from all over the world. It holds one board and two masts. Transporting kayaks / canoes - Kayaks and canoes are obviously bigger in size and wider, they come in all shapes and sizes and therefore can be more awkward to put on the roof of your car. Thule Kayak Carrier 874 - A set of four self-adjusting supports - covered with a protective film that makes it simple to slide your kayak onto the roof of the car. The adjustable supports of soft rubber fit the hull snugly and keep the kayak firmly in place. Includes 400mm straps with rubber protection around the metal buckle to avoid damage to the kayak and to keep the loading simple. Fits square bars Only Or aero bars with T-Track. Thule HullaPort Pro 837 - Unique J-Cradle design allows room for another Hull-a-Port or other gear carriers and accomodates any kayak including sea, recreational and white water kayaks. Includes front and rear cradles. The included Universal mounts allow fastening of this kayak carrier to all load bars. Includes all hardware, 2 straps and buckle bumpers for securing kayak bow and stern during transport. Transporting paddles / oars / masts - It might be easily forgotten but for most water sports you require a paddle or possibly a mast if you are going windsurfing. The Thule 855 is a specially designed carrier for accessories like paddles /oars / masts. carrier, which can securely fit up to 3 paddles / masts up to 10 cm in diameter. This suits both square and aero roof bars. etc Protective rubber coating. Integrated cable locks to secure accessories and a double-locking function. For combination carriers there is the Thule 833 or Thule 533 depending on which roof bar type you have on your car. These carriers combine a board holder and paddle or mast holder together so you don't need a separate holder. These were developed and tested by surfers for surfers, it is a safe and stable carrier for both sail and surfboards, widely used by surfers from all over the world. It holds one board and two masts.
The Little Extras
Now that you have all your equipment sorted you might want to think about what else you might need on your trip to make it an enjoyable adventure. Boot liners - Salt water and sand is inevitable when you go surfing so it's a good idea to protect your boot. Boot liners are a great way to do this. They are generally made of rubber and are waterproof, many have raised edges that prevent any additional bits of water from rolling down the sides. They're light and easy to clean. Plastic Box - That smell of wet wetsuit might be a desired scent for some but I'm afraid I'm not one of them. A great idea is to keep a plastic storage box with a clip on lid in your boot. Once you're back off the water and out of your wetsuit and booties you can keep them all together in a closed box to keep your car smelling nice and making it easy to take everything out to wash once you get home. Additional straps - Always best to be prepared and carry additional straps just in case. They're a very inexpensive item that could come in handy or just offer you some additional security for your boards in extremely windy weather. Key box - This is a little gem and such a simple idea. If you're heading out on the water where do you leave your car keys? There are a number of different types of key boxes out there but essentially it's a little coded box you can lock your car key inside while you are out on the water. Peace of mind while you're enjoying yourself. Roof Rack protectors - Vinyl-covered protection for everything from boards to small boats. Also good as separators when transporting several boards. Suitable for square and oval roof bars. Enjoy the water folks!