DIY Canoe Rack

[Emerald]

For over 30 years I've been reusing some simple clamping hardware that my father-in-law fabricated from steel plate and threaded rod moving it from rack to rack with vehicle changes. With the arrival of my BD Bronco last year I began envisioning the latest adaptation. Made of simple wood construction, I fabricated 4 mounting blocks that are coped to clamp around the profile of the factory cross bars and attached 2×4 cross bars to mount the hardware and accommodate the width of my canoe. The clamping hardware is removable, secured to the cross bars by the same 4 toggle bolts that secure the canoe via embedded square nuts. The best part, no straps or guy cabling required. Oh and saved me hundreds of $$ on premanufactured mounts and cross bars. This is no doubt the sturdiest version yet thanks to the factory rack mounting. I test piloted it over the July 4th weekend. It performed as expected - really well.

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[Durangatan]

Don't neglect at least a double bow line when tying down an open boat. As an instructor, instrustor trainer and / or instructor trainer educator for multiple padlesports disciplines most of the accident reports involving paddlecraft crossed my desk. Racks alone are not to be trusted.

 

[Emerald]

Don't neglect at least a double bow line when tying down an open boat. As an instructor, instrustor trainer and / or instructor trainer educator for multiple padlesports disciplines most of the accident reports involving paddlecraft crossed my desk. Racks alone are not to be trusted.

The gunwhales are aluminum and clamped down by 1/4" steel plate with an L shape lower plate with upturned leg. These are contoured to the profile of the canoe so even if the toggles came loose, and they never have, the profile of the canoe would not allow the canoe to come free. The toggle bolts are 3/8" dia. I have only transported this Coleman canoe so can't vouch for the performance of this method with other makes or models.

 

[Durangatan]

There are still multiple points of failure. One of which is that Coleman's hull are junk designed by their shipping department.

Coo, if you are willing to gamble with the safety of your canoe. Not cool if you are willing to gamble with someone else's life should that blow of your rack.

 

[Emerald]

I get your point on uplift, but if the hulls are junk as you suggest, how would tying off with a double bow line guarantee anything. Are you suggesting that the hull will/could rip free from the aluminum components? I have added straps over the hull for added securement. Does make me wonder about the need to bow line or strap down anything else on a rack such as a '"clam shell" roof top tent or roof top storage containers. Seems like similar advice would apply?

 

[Durangatan]

I get your point on uplift, but if the hulls are junk as you suggest, how would tying off with a double bow line guarantee anything. Are you suggesting that the hull will/could rip free from the aluminum components? I have added straps over the hull for added securement. Does make me wonder about the need to bow line or strap down anything else on a rack such as a '"clam shell" roof top tent or roof top storage containers. Seems like similar advice would apply?

The hull, being a thin rotomolded structure, has an immense amount of flex, even with aluminum reinforcement. It is not nearly as rigid as a composite / core structure.

I think you will find that every paddlepsorts professional and / or first responded will tell you that a load isn't really secure, until it is secured to a frame structure. As for bow lines... there have been several cases of vehicles being rear ended, and the loosely secured boat ets launched and goes through the vehicle in front of it. Bow lies and stern lines are best practices. However living in one of the least populated corners of the US, I get lazy (and am most often carrying WW kayaks).

The difference between boats and tents... that is between them and their insurance underwriters. Have your boat blow off of your roof and you will be in for a lengthy and expensive legal battle.

 

[indio22]

Bicycle inner tubes work great for holding boats on rooftop crossbars.

 

[Emerald]

The hull, being a thin rotomolded structure, has an immense amount of flex, even with aluminum reinforcement. It is not nearly as rigid as a composite / core structure.

I think you will find that every paddlepsorts professional and / or first responded will tell you that a load isn't really secure, until it is secured to a frame structure. As for bow lines... there have been several cases of vehicles being rear ended, and the loosely secured boat ets launched and goes through the vehicle in front of it. Bow lies and stern lines are best practices. However living in one of the least populated corners of the US, I get lazy (and am most often carrying WW kayaks).

The difference between boats and tents... that is between them and their insurance underwriters. Have your boat blow off of your roof and you will be in for a lengthy and expensive legal battle.

This is an older model canoe and fairly heavy. Not certain of the manufacturing technique but the hull by my best guess is 1/8" or more thick plastic and not a portaging delight. A catastrophic failure of the clamps or rack would be necessary for blow-off but consideration for an accident makes sense. I think relying on hold down straps over the hull as the primary hold down may have more risk because of the flex you mentioned. Seems that that approach would rely even more heavily and actively on bowlines because of flex potential in the hull. I do appreciate the dialog. Hopefully its helpful for others as well in considering and implementing proper precautions.]

 

[bikesandguitars]

I had a buddy, while moving some heirloom furniture, had a poorly secured headboard fly out the back of his truck when he hit some cross winds. It caused a very bad accident. His regrets are many.

Tie your canoe down.

 

[BKXJ]

They literally designed two tie down points on our trucks for this exact purpose…

 

[RedDawg]

The standard rack with four tie down straps. 1 in the front, 1 on the back, and 2 across.

 

[Canoehead26]

Lot's of great home made ideas out there like yours that have stood the test of time. Looks great.

I bought the Thule Canoe Carrier mounts for my OEM Bronco rack and they work great too, although you of course have to cinch it down. I also use a rachet strap at the stern connected to the rear hitch

. The Thule's form nicely to the gunwale contours both back and front. They are also rubber padded. I moved the crossover rack to the very front which seems a better configuration for canoe carrying. Happy paddling.

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