Can I Use A J Bar For The Canoe?

J-bars are specialized canoe carriers that can be used for transporting various water sports equipment, such as kayaks, canoes, surfboards, snowboards, windsurfing boards, and small sailboats. They are designed to secure the canoe tightly onto the car, making it easier to load the boat. To use J-bars, position the bar correctly on your car and use straps to fasten the front and rear of the canoe.

The Thule 835 pros and Yakima Bowdown are common choices for full-size sea kayaks. It is important to avoid bars that extend past your roof unless they are well overhead or you prefer the Rocky look. Once you have the correct feet for your vehicle, you can purchase up to 78-inch-wide bars.

Canoes don’t fit well in J-bars, so they can be strapped to your crossbars as long as it fits. Cam buckle or ratchet straps can be used to secure the kayak, crossing through the longer J Hooks (facing the back of the kayak) over the kayak.

J-shaped bars are the most common way to transport your kayak, as they cradle the kayak on its side. Kayaks can easily be strapped down to cross bars, and sometimes J bars or uprights are used to put the boats on their sides allowing more to fit.

It is possible to rest the boat on the gunnels, one side on the end of the boat, using the roof box filled with light stuff like BAs. The pros and cons of each type of J-bar setup depend on your specific needs and preferences.