How to Properly Tie Down Inflatable Boat?

You’re probably excited about purchasing your new inflatable boat. Perhaps you’ve even planned a couple of trips to a lake or river near you. You’re just left with one problem; you have no idea how to tie down your inflatable boat.

There are several ways you can tie and transport your inflatable boat; they depend on the type of car you have and the size of your boat. Luckily, you have one significant advantage working in your favor against traditional boat owners. Your boat is inflatable, meaning you can deflate it into a smaller size, tie it down and transport it. People with traditional boats have to deal with the inconvenience of trying to transport a bulky boat.

Deflated Boats

When deflated, you can easily transport your boat in the trunk, on a hitch, or in a roof bag. When it comes to tying down your boat in the trunk of your car, you need to ensure that you have enough space and pack everything you need before you proceed to tie down the boat. Most times, the weight of other items in the trunk will help keep the boat in place. However, you can still tie it with a rope into a smaller shape before placing it in your trunk.

If your car is too small and you do not have enough space in its trunk, you can make use of a hitch. A hitch is a great way to increase storage space, and it makes for an ideal for you to transport your inflatable boat. After deflating it, roll it into a small shape and then use tope or rubber ties to secure the boat to the hitch.

Another option to tying down and transporting your boat is to use a roof bag. As the name suggests, a roof bag is a storage bag that you can easily secure to your car’s roof, even without a rack. These bags are waterproof, making them an ideal way to transport your boat. Simply fold your boat, place it inside the bag, and secure the bag to your car’s roof. This is a popular option because you don’t need to include a rack on your car’s roof.

Inflated Boats

Transporting a deflated boat is not always an option, especially if inflating your boat takes time. So, to save on time, you’d rather inflate the boat, transport it, and get to your destination as it’s ready to use.

If your boat takes a while to reassemble, then you can use a car rack to tie your boat down. The downside to this method is that you cannot tie down your boat if it is larger than your car. So, this works for people who own minivans, SUVs, and trucks. If it is an option, use a bungee cord or rope to tie down your inflated boat and pass a piece through your boat’s handle and the car rack. Repeat the same process on the other side. Wrap the cord around the boat several times for added security.

With these tips, you can easily tie down and transport your inflatable boat.