Want to bring my canoe

[PKCSPT]

I would like to be able to carry my canoe,, I really don't want to put it on my tear since I really have no idea how the stress of a canoe would affect it and I do not want to drill any holes in it to mount a rack.
I am hesitant to mount a permanent rack on top of my car, partly because I do not want holes. Partly don't have a couple hundred dollars to spend on having one installed.


The canoe is a 13 foot Grumman wide body. Not interested in a kayak, my 100lb 4 legged camping partner won't fit.

Anybody have experience with one of these or simikar?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B00002N9G1/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_1?ie=UTF8&index=1

This is my setup

[Shadow Catcher]

There are alternatives including foam blocks that fit over the gunwales of the canoe. Reasonably secure. I do prefer a rack however.

[bobhenry]

OK>>>>>

Somebody........

I need help

somewhere on here is a thread about crazy ideas to incorporate side mounted receivers on the 4 corners of the trailer frame with multiple functions.......

One was a roof / canoe rack.

I looked and looked

[deleted]

Was it this one? viewtopic.php?t=30925&highlight=receiver+tubes

[bobhenry]

Was it this one? viewtopic.php?t=30925&highlight=receiver+tubes

That's it Thanks Stacie

I had to revisit that thread and plow back thru all 5 pages

there are a lot of great ideas in that post.

[deleted]

Cool. I bookmarked it when I was doing research for my trailer design. I thought it was a pretty brilliant idea so when you described it it sounded familiar.

[ParTaxer]

I've used the foam blocks with well secured straps and had no problems whatsoever.

Mike W

[PKCSPT]

I remember that mount system on that Little Guy, if I can ever get a few dollars ahead I would do that.
Foam blocks don't work so well on a beetle.
Maybe I will go ahead and try these on Amazon only $30. Haven't hoisted that canoe to a car top in a few years by myself so that will be interesting part #2.

[GuitarPhotog]

I've used the foam blocks with well secured straps and had no problems whatsoever.

Mike W

On a Beetle?

I would not be confident in the ability of just foam blocks, and some straps anchored who knows where, to hold a canoe on the top of a car at freeway speeds.

<Chas>

[Bogo]

What I did for car racks on the gutterless cars is to take a 2x6 and shaped the edge to closely fit the top surface of the edge of the roof. Then I covered that shaped surface with a layer of closed cell backpacker's pad foam. The cross bars were 1" thick by 2" wide oak hardwood flooring strips, and I usually used 4 to 6 of them. Because the cross bars were a hardwood, I pre drilled and counter sunk the holes for the screws used to attach the cross bars to the tops of the side rails. Then I used 2 straps on each side with flat plate hooks to hold it down to the door opening. The hooks were around 1.5" wide, and were made out of stamped and bent sheet metal. The strap went through the hole in the hook, and a pair of holes drilled in the side rail. Keeping the holes in the side rails low helps the hook hold better. I've carried a 16' long wide bodied Smokercraft on many different small cars with that style of car carrier.

Hooks looked something like these, but simpler:
http://www.rightlinegear.com/roof-cargo ... ories.html

[Bigwoods]

As Mike said, I have used foam blocks and straps and hauled a 17' canoe to the Boundary Waters many times. One trick is to twist the straps or he vibration will make them sing and really put a scare into you. I always have two over he middle and one front and back.