Canoe tie down tips
by Steve Heiselman
Contributed 09/13/2004 Responses: 1
I get razzed about this everytime I load my canoe on my cartop racks, but this method of tying down your canoe really makes it secure to your racks.
First, use straps instead of ropes (I know, I was a rope purist, but now I'm a strap weenie!) Loop the first strap under a crossbar, and pass both ends over top of the canoe. Then loop the strap under the opposite crossbar (i.e. if you start on the front crossbar, pass the ends of the strap over the canoe and loop around the rear crossbar.) Loosely tighten the strap. Then, take the second strap and cross it from rear to front. Tighten both straps securely. When viewed from above, the straps will cross each other on the hull of the canoe, making an "X". This method will keep the canoe from twisting to one side or the other on your racks, especially if they are a bit too close together to effectively hold a 16 ft. long canoe. (When I tied my canoe down with ropes in the traditional manner and drove on the highway, my canoe often slid around on top of the racks.) Depending on the width between your crossbars, a pair of 15ft. straps should be long enough. You should still use at least a bow line tiedown to the front bumper area, and a stearn line if you have a tiedowm place on the rear of your vehicle.
My goal is to get enough people using this method so that I'm not the only dork doing it!
Followup submissions
Re: Canoe tie down tips by Steve
Contributed 10/18/2004 Responses: 0
Bad idea. This can cause the racks to draw together, thus loosening the straps. Safer to limit each strap to its own rack. Yaw should not be a problem if the straps are secured tightly with ratchets, as close to the gunnwales as possible.
: I get razzed about this everytime I load my canoe on my cartop racks, but this method of tying down your canoe really makes it secure to your racks.
:
: First, use straps instead of ropes (I know, I was a rope purist, but now I'm a strap weenie!) Loop the first strap under a crossbar, and pass both ends over top of the canoe. Then loop the strap under the opposite crossbar (i.e. if you start on the front crossbar, pass the ends of the strap over the canoe and loop around the rear crossbar.) Loosely tighten the strap. Then, take the second strap and cross it from rear to front. Tighten both straps securely. When viewed from above, the straps will cross each other on the hull of the canoe, making an "X". This method will keep the canoe from twisting to one side or the other on your racks, especially if they are a bit too close together to effectively hold a 16 ft. long canoe. (When I tied my canoe down with ropes in the traditional manner and drove on the highway, my canoe often slid around on top of the racks.) Depending on the width between your crossbars, a pair of 15ft. straps should be long enough. You should still use at least a bow line tiedown to the front bumper area, and a stearn line if you have a tiedowm place on the rear of your vehicle.
:
: My goal is to get enough people using this method so that I'm not the only dork doing it!
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