Clip a small dry bag within arm's reach, and strap a big one low and tight to the craft. On a kayak, the deck lines forward of the cockpit. On a canoe, under a thwart. On a board, under the deck bungee. On an outrigger, along the iako or tucked under a seat. On an OC-1, under the bungees. Nothing rides high, nothing rides loose.
Most of what is written about this is written for one boat by a company that sells hardware for that boat. Paddlers, meanwhile, tend to own more than one craft, or borrow, or switch seasons. So here is the version that covers all of them.
Where does a dry bag go on a kayak?
Two places, depending on size. A 2 liter clips to the deck line right in front of the cockpit, or to a PFD lash tab, and stays there because you want your phone and keys where your hand already goes. A 10 liter or 20 liter goes under the forward or aft deck rigging, lying flat along the hull rather than sitting up on it.
The mistake is running the deck line through the roll and calling it done. Snug the bag against the deck first, then secure it, so it cannot slide sideways when the boat leans. A bag that can move will move, and it will pick the least convenient moment to do it. If your kayak has a hatch, the big bag can also just live inside it, which is the tidiest answer of all, and the roll-top still matters there because hatches are water resistant rather than watertight.
How do you secure one on a paddleboard or a canoe?
On a board, the deck bungee forward of your feet is the spot. Lay a 10 liter flat, run the bungee over the middle of the bag rather than over the rolled end, and cinch it. Bags come loose on boards for one reason almost every time: the bungee was over the roll, and the roll is the part that compresses. A 20 liter fits too but sits taller, which matters in wind, so if you paddle a lot of open water the 10 liter is the better deck bag.
On a canoe, clip or strap the bag to a thwart so it hangs just off the hull floor. This keeps it out of the bilge water that always eventually shows up, and it keeps the bag from sliding fore and aft when you brace. Canoes are the most forgiving craft for this, which is why canoe paddlers get away with sloppy attachment for years and then get a surprise on the one windy crossing.
What about an outrigger canoe or a downwind board?
This is the case nobody writes about, and it is the one with the least margin. On an OC, secure the bag under the bungees. On a downwind board, low and centered, and small. Anything on the deck at speed is either strapped so it cannot move or it is going to move.
The honest note here: any bag on the outside of a boat in real conditions is exposed to more water than a bag inside a hatch, and roll-top dry bags are built to keep splash, spray, and rain out, not to be submerged and held under. If your route means you are getting worked, put anything you truly cannot replace inside the hull. We wrote more about that scope in waterproof versus water resistant. For the OC and downwind version specifically, dry storage for outrigger and downwind goes deeper.
What actually comes loose first
The roll, not the strap. A dry bag that was rolled twice instead of three or more times will slowly work itself open under a bungee, and the water gets in without anything ever visibly failing. Roll it properly first, secure it second, in that order. How to seal a dry bag covers the roll count.
Built to be clipped down
Wild Currents 2 liter bags have a clip, the 10 liter has one detachable strap, and the 20 liter has two, so each size attaches the way its job actually calls for. Browse the collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you attach a dry bag to a kayak?
Clip a small bag to the deck line in front of the cockpit or to a PFD lash tab, and secure a larger bag flat under the deck rigging, snugged against the hull so it cannot slide when the boat leans. If your kayak has a hatch, inside the hatch is even better.
Where should a dry bag go on a paddleboard?
Under the deck bungee forward of your feet, laid flat, with the bungee running over the middle of the bag rather than over the rolled end. The roll compresses, so a bungee across it will loosen.
Will a dry bag stay attached in rough water?
If it is strapped low, tight, and flat, usually yes. Anything riding high or loose will shift. In real chop, keep irreplaceable items inside the hull rather than on the deck.
Do I need extra hardware like carabiners or D-rings?
Usually not. Most craft already have deck lines, bungees, or thwarts that will hold a bag, and Wild Currents bags come with a clip or detachable straps depending on size. Add hardware only if your boat genuinely has no attachment point.
Can I just put the dry bag inside the kayak hatch?
Yes, and it is the driest option. Hatches are water resistant rather than watertight, so a roll-top bag inside one is doing real work, not redundant work.