BWCA Concerns leaving Canoe on vehicle overnight? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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frlu0501
member (47)member
  
03/17/2017 09:34AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
We were thinking about heading up the night before and staying at a resort on the way before we head in the next morning. I'm a bit concerned about theft leaving our canoe on the roof overnight.

Has anyone had any trouble leaving the canoe strapped to your roof overnight? Or how do you protect your canoe from theft?

Thanks
 
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Savage Voyageur
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03/17/2017 09:43AM  
Get a cable bike lock and install it. No mater what you do if they really want it, it's going to be stolen. Resorts are pretty safe places anyway. If not I would stay at another resort.
BnD
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03/17/2017 09:51AM  
quote Savage Voyageur: "Get a cable bike lock and install it. No mater what you do if they really want it, it's going to be stolen. Resorts are pretty safe places anyway. If not I would stay at another resort."


That is exactly what we do with a treestand cable lock. We haven't had any issues.
03/17/2017 10:10AM  
quote Savage Voyageur: "Get a cable bike lock and install it. No mater what you do if they really want it, it's going to be stolen. Resorts are pretty safe places anyway. If not I would stay at another resort."


Make sure it's a combination lock so you don't have to remember a key. I screwed up once and couldn't find the key when we wanted to unlock it in the morning (never did find it). I looked pretty silly sawing off my own cable lock to get my canoe off. I'm lucky nobody saw this as they may have called the cops on me. ??
mastertangler
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03/17/2017 10:42AM  
I use a lock and a motion detector alarm (like the ones you place on hotel doors). Someone starts monkeying around and the alarm goes off. Just set it up inside the boat and sleep easy.
03/17/2017 11:25AM  
A cable and lock will work fine. During my canoe race days,my canoe was on my car all summer except when it was in the water
AdamXChicago
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03/17/2017 12:13PM  
I've left the canoe on overnight many times and had no issues. As recommended above, get a good cable lock and sleep well.
billconner
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03/17/2017 05:54PM  
Depends where. I leave it on the car in Ely. I have carried it into a hotel.
03/17/2017 08:13PM  
Generally we don't worry about it. If there is a concern we use a bike lock and cable.

For our daughters kayak they make a long cable (don't remember the brand without digging in the garage) that loops over the bow and stern, and goes around the roof rack then locks.
ozarkpaddler
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03/18/2017 03:23AM  
quote 4keys: "Generally we don't worry about it. If there is a concern we use a bike lock and cable.
For our daughters kayak they make a long cable (don't remember the brand without digging in the garage) that loops over the bow and stern, and goes around the roof rack then locks.
"


I have a couple just in case. I have a special key chain that stays in the truck and has keys to all locks. I've stayed between MO and MN many a time and all over the country and no issues but if someone really wants it.....
OldFingers57
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03/18/2017 05:17AM  
I do as others have and use a cable lock. However I also use a good stout piece of log chain with a lock too.
03/18/2017 05:55AM  
Having hauled hundreds of canoes and kayaks across the country the last few years I've never had a problem. I do sleep in my truck usually, and kind of have a feel for what's safe or not to stay at. I think as good as a lock is just tying down with some extra whatever. The more trouble they have to go through to get it the less likely they'll try to get it. And the side benefit is a more secured canoe. Besides, nowadays you tie it to your roof nobody sees it, their too busy looking down at their phones.
Savage Voyageur
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03/18/2017 06:53AM  
quote billconner: "Depends where. I leave it on the car in Ely. I have carried it into a hotel."


Must be a small canoe to get into the elevator.
pswith5
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03/18/2017 07:34AM  
I guess I am not a worrier! I have buddy who worries about every little thing.
03/18/2017 08:07AM  
Have never had a problem. But if you are worried lockable steel reinforced straps are available.
Kanulock
Thule Lockable Straps

butthead
03/18/2017 09:44AM  
Another option. Similar to Butthead's post. A bud uses these. A bit expensive but a good option for security.

Sea to Summit Lock Strap Set
03/18/2017 10:07AM  
quote Wally13: " Another option. Similar to Butthead's post. A bud uses these. A bit expensive but a good option for security.


Sea to Summit Lock Strap Set "


I was looking for those specifically at CanoeCopia, folks at the Sea to Summit display never heard of them! I think they are the same as the Kanulock.

butthead
QueticoMike
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03/18/2017 10:40AM  
quote billconner: "Depends where. I leave it on the car in Ely. I have carried it into a hotel."


That's funny! When I first bought my Kevlar canoe I used to put it the motel room too. Good thing we stayed at a motel were we could do that. I don't worry about it anymore.
billconner
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03/18/2017 01:05PM  
It was when I picked my Tranquility between this past Christmas and New Years and was staying in the Canal Park area in Duluth, and below zero. Just inside in meeting room, with permission of course.

I did leave my Q17 on my car - with cable lock - to keep honest people honest - at the Milwaukee Hilton. Second from top floor of a tallish parking structure. I worried some but it was fine.
ZaraSp00k
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03/18/2017 03:45PM  
I just put a sign in my vehicle window:
Canoe for sale $100, needs repair.
yogi59weedr
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03/18/2017 04:07PM  
I would just put a sign on it that says......
Smile your in my crosshairs.
03/18/2017 08:49PM  
I never did in MN, but I do now in AK.
There are sticky fingers here, now I use a cable lock with a padlock but should take others advice and get a bike lock.
03/18/2017 10:27PM  
give a spare set of all keys we would need if mine got lost or left in car. This includes a day to cable lock too.
03/19/2017 05:12AM  
As others have suggested, I use a cable lock if in motel parking lot overnight.
TrekScouter
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03/19/2017 07:54AM  
I use the Thule lockable straps, mostly for my travel days. I know a theft is unlikely, but it gives me piece of mind. Now I don't have to worry when I stop at a random Walmart for some last minute items.
TrekScouter
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03/19/2017 07:54AM  
I use the Thule lockable straps, mostly for my travel days. I know a theft is unlikely, but it gives me price of mind. Now I don't have to worry when I stop at a random Walmart for some last minute items.
WonderMonkey
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03/19/2017 08:14AM  
When you are using lockable straps, etc. make sure that your rack (if you have one) is ALSO secured. My rack can be taken off my crossbars easily so if I was to lock my kayaks to my holder that would be good step 1, but if someone noticed they could just undo my rack from the crossbar and laugh all the way home with my stuff.

So ... at some point if I become concerned I'll have to make sure to secure all points.
AtwaterGA
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03/24/2017 05:04AM  
We travel from South Georgia to the Quetico each year and have made the trip at least 30 times. This means that we have traveled at least 90,000 miles with the canoe on the truck. We worry about theft of the canoe but in all of those trips nothing has been stolen. We also carry our canoe to Florida each year to canoe and fish in bays and sounds. One morning I looked out the window and the canoe had been stolen off the truck. It was a Wenona Spirit II Kevlar ultra light. Someone had taken the time to untie the straps and remove the canoe. It was then dragged down the road to the beach and apparently thrown in the ocean. Later that day we saw a charter fishing boat coming in with the canoe on its deck. The canoe was found floating upside down three miles out in the Gulf. The wave action had broken one of the wood gunnels. We were lucky to get the canoe back. We now place two cables with locks on the canoe and lock it to the truck Yakama racks.
bwcasolo
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03/24/2017 03:19PM  
never have worried about it, i have seen many canoes on the gunflint, in grand marias, and ely on top of cars overnight.
BearBurrito
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03/24/2017 07:05PM  
Never had any problems leaving it on top over night.
goaljohnbill
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04/25/2017 03:08PM  
quote butthead: "Have never had a problem. But if you are worried lockable steel reinforced straps are available.
Kanulock
Thule Lockable Straps


butthead"



A less expensive option is to buy coated cable by the foot from a hardware store and appropriately sized Ferrules and make your own tie down cables. I like this option because you can make any size you want. I made a 25' one and can run it through everything on my trailer at the same time and use one lock. Or strap multiple boats to a tree at a car camp site while out for a hike. It may not be as strong as these options but I believe the same as others, if someone really wants it you cant stop them. Its more the spontaneous jackassery of hooligans that gets blocked, like being dumped in the ocean.
BuckFlicks
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04/25/2017 04:18PM  
Left it on the roof of the vehicle at the Cliffdweller and at our cabin at Sugar Beach resort (both in Tofte) and didn't have any problems. Worried less at Sugar Beach because our cabin was isolated and off the road... but the Cliffdweller is right on the road. No locks, just the ratchet straps.

First time we went, we hauled the canoe up the stairs and into the room overnight. Decided that was unnecessary.

 
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