I just purchased a Honda Fit. I am interested in putting my Bell Northwoods on it. The canoe is 18'6". The car is just over 13'.

I may put a receiver hitch on it and have a T made to add extra support on the back. No where to tie off on the front. I usually use two ropes and tie off the front on my SUV.

Anyone put their long canoe on their short vehicle and drive a long distance? Thanks!

Let me add. I am not needing info on roof racks...

My cousin put a MN II (18'6" as well) on his Prius this past summer. The Prius is 169 .6" or just over 14'. It looked pretty damned funny but it worked. We used foam blocks with a wood dowel or bar sitting in the blocks. The canoe sat on the wood dowels/beams/bars. These bars were placed as far apart as we could get them on top of the car. He drove it from the outfitter in Ely to EP 14 (LIS) and of course back. It rode well and there were no issues. He also drove it all over Ely the evening of pick-up.
If I recall there was enough roof space. I think that is the bigger question, how much roof is there to use.
I'll try to add a photo of it later.

According to Yakima's Fit My Car online tool, you should be able to achieve a 30" crossbar spread of your Fit, which is adequate for that length boat. Use Top Ties or similar loops of webbed strapping bolted under the hood for securing the front end.

...somebody's bound to post the pic of the sporty little red MG(?) with the huge canoe on top. Can't find it right off.

I've done a Spirit II and a MN II on top of my Toyota Corolla with a Yakima rack.

I've carried a SR Q17 and a Bell Magic on top of my Prius. driven from twin cities to the north woods.

I saw a couple of MN IV's on a Honda Civic.

Edit: July 4th Parade Ely, MN - 2012 and 2011. VNO's Entries. Looking forward to seeing next years entry.

I think Red Green tried something like what you are suggesting. I'm sure it will work better for you.

quote cowdoc: " "

That's awesome!

quote Zulu: " wh






I saw a couple of MN IV's on a Honda Civic."

Where was that parade?

I may be new here but looking at the flags in the picture and the decals on the canoes its in Minnesota and further looking at the street sign shows the names Harvey and 6th. A quick Google check of Ely map and I would say that's where it was at.

quote Zulu: "






I saw a couple of MN IV's on a Honda Civic."

haha, ive seen him! inspires me with my golf :) i have hauld an 18' sundowner and a MNII (different times) on my 98 golf. I have never had a problem making the trip anywhere with them. 2 straps over the middle, 2 straps on the ends making an upside down "v".

btw, those photos were takend litterally across the street from my inlaws house! you can see it in the second photo (left hosue with porch) was that from this year?

edit to add my photos :)on my fiero: 16ft oldtown camper

Golf: 18' Sundowner

I don't have any scanned pictures, but we used to carry my 17' aluminum Lowe canoe on a friend's Chevy Chevette, our Ford Pinto, and another friend's Nissan Sentra.

We've done the 17.5 aluminum and our SR 17 on our mitsubishi galant :) looks pretty. haha.

I drive a 17' Spirit II all over the place on top of my Prius. Use foam blocks, belly straps, and straps on the bow & stern.

TriTodd - buy or make nylon webbing loops to attach to your front fender bolts. That will give you an easily accessible & solid attachment point in the front of the car.
In the rear I use the tow hooks on the undercarriage but not all cars have them.

quote Papinator: "We've done the 17.5 aluminum and our SR 17 on our mitsubishi galant :) looks pretty. haha. "

An old Lowe canoe, my first real canoe! Thanks for reigniting some memories, papinator.

I carry my 17 1/2 foot Wenonah Voyager on top of a Ford Focus.

This is my 17'9" Sawyer on top of my Saturn Ion. My new knoo carriage is a 2004 Chevy Colorado. No pics yet due to the fact the boat is in the garage and the truck doesn't fit in there yet until it gets cleaned out.

quote Jrrood: "

haha, ive seen him! inspires me with my golf :) i have hauld an 18' sundowner and a MNII (different times) on my 98 golf. I have never had a problem making the trip anywhere with them. 2 straps over the middle, 2 straps on the ends making an upside down "v".


btw, those photos were takend litterally across the street from my inlaws house! you can see it in the second photo (left hosue with porch) was that from this year?

edit to add my photos :)on my fiero: 16ft oldtown camper

Golf: 18' Sundowner
"

There is a guy down the block with a Red Fiero similar to yours, he also has a green Old Town, this is in North Minneapolis, any chance thats you?

Most of my early 70's trips to the BWCA were in a '67 VW Beetle with a 17' Alumacraft on top.

quote Ragged: "

quote Jrrood: "


haha, ive seen him! inspires me with my golf :) i have hauld an 18' sundowner and a MNII (different times) on my 98 golf. I have never had a problem making the trip anywhere with them. 2 straps over the middle, 2 straps on the ends making an upside down "v".



btw, those photos were takend litterally across the street from my inlaws house! you can see it in the second photo (left hosue with porch) was that from this year?


edit to add my photos :)on my fiero: 16ft oldtown camper

Golf: 18' Sundowner
"

There is a guy down the block with a Red Fiero similar to yours, he also has a green Old Town, this is in North Minneapolis, any chance thats you? "

nope, not me. I live in Shoreview. Teh Oldtown has since been sold (as well as the sundowner) I do have a green Sawyer though :)

I always kind of liked this picture of my 63 Thompson canoe on a 72 Ford Pinto. We managed to coax this car all the way to Flin Flon, Manitoba but not all the way back. Left it in Longville, Minnesota. I got the canoe home though.

Thanks one and all for sharing all the photos. They are great!

18' ww2 on dying opel

quote jwartman59: " 18' ww2 on dying opel"

...with a favorite cue card license plate.

No picture but I transport my SR17 on top of my VW Jetta.

~JOE~

quote Traveler: "I always kind of liked this picture of my 63 Thompson canoe on a 72 Ford Pinto. We managed to coax this car all the way to Flin Flon, Manitoba but not all the way back. Left it in Longville, Minnesota. I got the canoe home though. "

We were a 2 Pinto family for awhile back in the '80's. One like yours and one Pinto Wagon. Gosh, our vehicles have come a long way since then!

No pictures, but I met a guy from Winnipeg in Warroad MN, who bought a Mn 1V from us. He brought a very small utility trailer. I ended up selling him the racks off my truck to put on his so he could manage it home. I ended up with a new set of racks out of the deal. :) I don't think he realized how big the canoe was he was buying. Never heard how he did. Good thing he was my last stop.

On MadNats Cavalier.........This is my Boundary Waters from Wenonah.

Old Town Tripper Xl - 20 feet long and 105 lbs on top of my focus. I drove up to skibo mill. Couple hour drive anyways. It was fine. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Wenonah Champlain on a Jeep Wrangler.

quote jwartman59: " 18' ww2 on dying opel"

My future wife had a dying Opel when I first met her. They all seemed to be dying.