carrying a canoe on a 17'

mosquitodirk · 08-26-2009, 04:40 PM

Does anyone have practical experience and suggestions regarding securely attaching and then travelling with a canoe on top of their 17'? I'm wondering about carrying a 17' Prospector up there but I'm worried about added fuel consumption and/or wind buffetting (not to mention the potential for the canoe to go on its own airborne holiday).

How did you tie it down? Is is sufficient to tie it to the rear bumper and front tongue?

gbaglo · 08-26-2009, 04:54 PM

I haven't tried it on the Escape and wouldn't. I loaded my 16' Prospector on top of my tent trailer. Then I realized when I got to camp that I had to transfer it to the vehicle to get to the put in anyway, and ( not a problem with the Escape), I couldn't open the tent trailer until I'd moved it. Besides, that's a long way up, and down.

I'd rather just load it and tie it down once.

baglo

Jim Bennett · 08-26-2009, 05:13 PM

Dirk, it talking with Reace about doing just that, the main thing to consider is the wind loading on the mount at the point it is attached to the trailer. If I was to have the mount done at the factory, he would have beefed up that area. I really doubt there would be much wind effect on it, no more then when on the vehicle.

I got busy and just decided to not worry about it, but in hind sight I sure wish I would have put mounts up there. Yes, it is a bit higher up to get at, but it would be up there 90% of the time anyway, then I would not be driving around the areas I am camped with a canoe on the tow, or be taking it off and on all the time. Fortunately the glass opens in my tailgate, because I can't open the tailgate with the canoe on top.

Glenn, I too had a 17-6' Prospector that I mounted on my Coleman tent trailer. That worked great for us. To get it down took about 2 minutes to drop the two tent supports and crank the top down. Otherwise I just kept it up there.

For security, it would be much better on the trailer, as nobody is likely to try to steal it, unless they bring along a ladder.

gbaglo · 08-26-2009, 06:18 PM

If you don't want people to steal your canoe, you just run it up on rocks, barnacles, drag it up through the bush by rope from the take-out and never, ever wax it. You might want to start by buying a factory second ( quite a bit cheaper ), with cosmetic blemishes. That's what I did. I defy you to find the blemishes now. Of course, I'm talking from a white-water perspective. If you have a nice lake boat ( like JB ) or a cedar stripper, you might want to exercise more care.

Jim Bennett · 08-26-2009, 06:34 PM

My Hellman Prospector has so many scratches on the bottom, it looks more like a mottled pattern. It is the one I now use for paddling bumpy rivers.

Though a bit beat up, it still functions great. Anyone in the know would know it is a good boat.

My Swift Winisk has a few scratches, they are almost impossible to avoid, short of doing only shallow water entries and never beaching it.

mosquitodirk · 08-27-2009, 05:28 PM

Thanks for the advice gentlemen - it won't be taken off often (the solo one on the tow vehicle will be taken off very often) - and I'll always have someone to help me with the on and off procedure.

I'm guessing that solid strapping to the tongue and bumper should be sufficient? Plenty of knots I suppose.

gbaglo · 08-27-2009, 05:34 PM

Another thing to consider: After 3,500 kilometers with the canoe on the RAV rack, the rack has no paint where the gunnels rubbed. It's even lost some metal ( aluminum I think ). You can get foam blocks designed for carrying a canoe without a rack. I threw mine away long ago because they allowed the canoe to shift from side to side. I wouldn't do it without a proper, secure rack attached to the roof of the trailer.

baglo

mosquitodirk · 08-27-2009, 05:45 PM

You make a strong point sir baglo. I must think about this more.....

gbaglo · 08-27-2009, 07:16 PM

Can you put a rack on the Frontier that will hold two canoes? I used to carry two on the Subaru.

baglo

mosquitodirk · 08-28-2009, 10:59 AM

I have carried two on the truck but the solo boat will be coming off and on quite frequently, the larger tandem won't. Mostly looking for aerodynamics (driving to Inuvik set up like that). I'm looking into wider bars for my rack today.

gbaglo · 08-28-2009, 05:04 PM

We got a couple 2 x 2s and lashed them to the rack to carry our pontoon boats. Cheap.

baglo

GaryH · 08-29-2009, 03:55 PM

We used to have a camper van & i put my 16' (Clipper) Prospector up on top. I made some racks to work, & i developed a good system to put it up & take it off (it was a ways up there!). I had to have blocks that didn't allow the gunnels to move sideways. Otherwise, when you hit crosswinds, the canoe would start moving.......not good! I have a 17' with roof racks & looking at it, i could do the same (Unfortunately i sold my canoe), but the unknown would be if it hit the vents up there or not! Also, you need to be able to strap it across ways for added security, i've seen bow ropes let go & it's not a pretty picture!!

gbaglo · 08-29-2009, 04:07 PM

Ever notice how many people tie the bow and stern like so: / /

If they brake hard there is nothing keeping the canoe from going forward for several feet.

Should be tied like so: / \

Can't go forward or back.

baglo

Hokie Escape · 08-29-2009, 04:28 PM

Guess if you had a small car and tied it like this \ /, that'd work wouldn't it? Nice illustration there Glen

gbaglo · 08-29-2009, 05:51 PM

I generally tie to the bow /
and then to a thwart at the rear \

baglo

Jim Bennett · 08-29-2009, 06:29 PM

I usually never tie the stern, only the bow. I do use a couple good canoe straps on the racks, and have just started to use THESE Malone Big Foot Pro™ universal car rack canoe carrier. I really like them, they hold the canoe real solid with absolutely no side-to-side movement. The bow strap to the front is only for added security.

Here is a video showing the car rack carrier.

[url=

gbaglo · 08-29-2009, 06:59 PM

And, if you want to protect the car's paint from the ropes, I found a cheap solution. Just buy a section of pipe insulation ( a foam tube, split down the middle ). Cut that in half and you've got a couple paint protectors. It stays put. Cost you about $1.50 at your hardware store.

baglo

mosquitodirk · 09-12-2009, 09:50 PM

I have a similar set-up to Jim on my truck (made by Yakima) - holds the canoe on at at least 156kph (no movement, and it was to pass one of those "slow in the single lane and gun it to beat heck in the double lane section" people). (and yes, that was with the trailer in tow - but don't tell Reace or Tammy).

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