I aways use roof rack pads to avoid damage to my board and deck pad.. and those annoying black marks that get on your deck pad from the racks.. and also avoid the chance of crushing the board rails from over tightening the straps.

My first pads were just foam blocks that would blow off if there was any wind and I'd have to chase them down the road after taking my board off the roof at the beach.. Even loading up to go home was a hassle because I'd place the pads on the racks but before I could lift my board on they'd blow off again.. Even in no wind when a big truck would wiz past they would be off down the road again.. That kept pissing me off.. So I cut my pads so they are a firm push on fit.. I was happy now and these pads have lasted me for years.





Cutting them is a lot trickier than you might think and I've been asked by a few friends now to make them some.. and I have.. The other day while I made some for another friend I took some pics so that people can make their own in the future..

First you need to find yourself some suitable foam about the right size.. Not the squeaky esky foam or the soft spongy foam.. This piece is from a noodle that they use to protect the boats from the wharf and I found it floating in the water one day while paddling.. I made these pads for my friends new Golf and her racks were a little more narrow than my Rola racks.. First I cut the block in half.. shown by the red line.



Next I do the two side cuts on an angle and note that you can not do the bottom cut yet shown by the green line.. That's the tricky part.



You need to do that bottom (green line) cut in two parts.. The first one like this.



... and the second one like this.. It's not easy.



This is what it should look like.. if you're nice a neat.







There is no need to have these pads very wide.. There's no need to have them as wide as the board and mine are about an inch short of the length of a hack saw blade.. If your board has a slightly domed deck only the center touches anyway.





You can now crank down the tie down straps because the pads will have some give.. before the rails give.. and you deck grip should remain mark free..



I often think about going into production making these and selling them.. Maybe I could then quit work and become a millionaire..

DJ

Good lateral thinking DJ. I was also thinking of MacGyver does SUP. I use those hollow swimming pool noddle things or pipe insulation tibes from Clark Rubber. Just one cut lengthwise and then jsut place them on and off when needed. Altho those wide bars like Rols etc would be harder to fit. You can drive and they don't blow off without a board if you forget to remove them.

I've also got the noodle's but the bigger one's from Clarke Rubber that were about $20 and have them cable tied to the racks and just leave them on all the time. Over 12 months later and they are still in good condition sitting in the weather and all.

Mind you, I saw DJ's when I paddled with him last year and was mighty impressed and would pay $20 for his idea over the noodles as the have the ability to come off and not cause the resistance when driving with no boards like mine do.

Always thinking DJ. Love it.

oliver said...

I saw a story on cable a couple of weeks ago called "Where are They Now" and sadly Mr. Noodle died penniless in a pauper grave.

Despite refining the humble pool noodle over several decades, In the 80's Mr. Noodle approached Mr. Clarke Rubber about selling his floaty pool noodle in his stores.

Apparently, Mr. Rubber loved the noodles so much he cut Mr. Noodle a check for $85.50 and effectively gazumped his idea and has mass produced noodles in China using disabled child workers and sold those noodles in his stores, Australia wide ever since.

If you do end up mass producing and selling those things DJ, I reckon you should start an online store and think of a really cool name for them - like SUP Protektor (the bad spelling, is supposed to catch your eye).

Whatever you do - don't make the same mistake Noodle made and cut a deal with Clarke.

LOL....nice one Oliver.

The thing that impressed me most was the 'casual' product placement