Not really sure where this one belongs so I'll drop it here. Bear with me, cabin fever is at its peak.

Like the title says, whats your preferred tie down method for transporting two canoes? In the past we have just thrown a straps over the belly of each canoe and around the bars,(78" Thule). A strap off the stern of each to the hitch. The bow is where it gets sloppy. Just a ton of rope/straps criss-crossing the windshield and it looks like hell, irritating to drive with. We have these which work great fore one canoe but add a 2nd boat and we make it a mess.

Soooo, lets hear it. One rope/strap of each bow to the loop? No straps at all? All the rope/straps/duct tape we can find and drive with my head out the window?

I know that I have seen a video of tying two canoes with one strap off to each side, like you would with just one canoe. I think it was done by Red Rock, but it looks like the old site -- with Joe telling everyone his "best" way to do everything -- has been modified for the worse...

As I recall, the strap is knotted to each canoe's bow in turn, not just passed through. Securing the two bows at a proper distance from one another eliminates movement outward, and securing each of the boats at a proper distance from the connection at the hood eliminates movement inward...

Strap them down both individually. 2 straps on bow and stern of each canoe.

1 ratchet strap on both the bow and stern of each canoe, which should criss-cross the other strap to the opposite side of the vehicle. When you look at the vehicle from the front or back, each canoes strap going to the opposite side of the vehicle would look like an "X". Then another strap or rope in the middle of the canoes that also goes inside the vehicle and around so that the canoes are tied together.

5 straps total - 2 ratchet straps in the front and back chris-crossing each other and one strap through the middle of each canoe inside the vehicle.

Wide enough set of bars and 2 sets of gunnel brackets, each canoe tied separately to the bars. The gunnel brackets held side to side very well, the front ties are mostly security against wind lift. Share the concern about looking past a web of lines.
It has worked well for me over 700 mile trip. Still you will really notice the difference between hauling 1 and 2 canoes.

butthead

quote walllee: "Strap them down both individually. 2 straps on bow and stern of each canoe."

Yup - somehow I can visually tune out the mess up front.

quote BWPaddler: "

quote walllee: "Strap them down both individually. 2 straps on bow and stern of each canoe."

Yup - somehow I can visually tune out the mess up front."

Same here. Often have 2 on top and 2 on the trailer, all tied seperately.

quote Grandma L: "

quote BWPaddler: "

quote walllee: "Strap them down both individually. 2 straps on bow and stern of each canoe."

Yup - somehow I can visually tune out the mess up front."

Same here. Often have 2 on top and 2 on the trailer, all tied seperately."

Third, and cam straps please. Friends don't let friends use ratchet straps.

I just use strap my 2 canoes on tight to my Thule bar and canoe base pads.

Thule Canoe base pad for bar


Then I tie one line of rope from each bow to a Thule hood strap. I used to criss cross and there really is no need to. Also, I now use rope to secure bow to the hood strap as a thin flat strap would vibrate at highway speed.

Thule Hood Loop Strap

I also just tie just one rope from each canoe stern end to my bumper hitch on my truck.

I can't find a pic ... but I think you should get the idea.

My truck with 2 canoes looks just like Butthead's.

quote walllee: "Strap them down both individually. 2 straps on bow and stern of each canoe."

Exactly what he said^^^^. From experience, Indvidually.

quote Wally13: "
I just use strap my 2 canoes on tight to my Thule bar and canoe base pads.


Thule Canoe base pad for bar



Then I tie one line of rope from each bow to a Thule hood strap. I used to criss cross and there really is no need to. Also, I now use rope to secure bow to the hood strap as a thin flat strap would vibrate at highway speed.

Thule Hood Loop Strap


I also just tie just one rope from each canoe stern end to my bumper hitch on my truck.


I can't find a pic ... but I think you should get the idea."

Jeez they want blood for those brackets. Assuming in need 4 per canoe that's 130$ before tax. I think that's what I need though then I can worry less about any side to side movement and just out one rope to one good loop.

Two cross ropes (never have used straps) tied with trucker's hitch.

Bow line tied to one and run through the front loop of the other tied to the tow hook on the truck with an old neoprene bootie toe used to protect the paint on the hood. Similar tie down in the stern.

:)

quote TuscaroraBorealis: " :)"

Perfect! We actually did something like that with a solo and an old gumman one year. Serviceable for a short slow trip.

It depends on how much distance you have between your load bars. On my pathfinder, I have almost 5 feet, so with two cam straps over the top of each canoe, I do not use bow or stern tie downs for short trips.

For long trips, 2 cam straps over each canoe (looped around the bar in the center and around the bar on the outside, so one big loop) and two ropes on each bow, one to each hood tie down on each side cinched down with a truckers hitch. The two tie downs on each bow really keeps the canoes from moving even in a lot of wind. I do not like my Kevlar moving even if a large truck goes by. I use camo rope to tie down the bow so I cannot see it :-)

quote RainGearRight: "

quote Wally13: "
I just use strap my 2 canoes on tight to my Thule bar and canoe base pads.



Thule Canoe base pad for bar



Then I tie one line of rope from each bow to a Thule hood strap. I used to criss cross and there really is no need to. Also, I now use rope to secure bow to the hood strap as a thin flat strap would vibrate at highway speed.

Thule Hood Loop Strap



I also just tie just one rope from each canoe stern end to my bumper hitch on my truck.



I can't find a pic ... but I think you should get the idea."

Jeez they want blood for those brackets. Assuming in need 4 per canoe that's 130$ before tax. I think that's what I need though then I can worry less about any side to side movement and just out one rope to one good loop.
"

Those brackets are spendy but work extremely well. I use them and don't even use a rope off the front or back, just 2 around the canoe to the roof rack. The canoe doesn't move an inch.

I have taken 2 canoes on top of my car many times from down state Illinois to Quetico many times. I have longer 2 X 4 s that I tie the canoes down with ratchet straps across the top and criss cross ropes front and back. See picture.

Two straps around the belly of each and typically only one bow and one stern tiedown. I usually use rope or Tieco Tyups Tyups for the ends. I make an exception and tie two for each bow when the wind is very heavy. And if I have a short boat (like my wife's Solo 13) I may skip the bow strap to the front and tie bow painter to inside of truck or rack if it's a short shuttle.

On the back, I usually tie to hitch for long trips, but just to the river I sometimes just secure to the rack.

Put one boat on my Yakima rack. Secure it to the front bar by using a Piragis strap that I end up tying because the clasp doesn't close. Never did really. Tie this tight as possible. The tag ends are long and wrap around the mount several times. I just use multiple square knots. Loop a rope around the canoe and mounts in the back. Tie down, first with a square knot then the same knot you use to tie your shoes. Never have learned any fancy knots. Probably should, I guess. As long as the front straps hold tight, that boat isn't goin nowhere. Pull over and double check the soundness of the tie downs after a little while on the road, 1 1/2-2 hours. If it's good, it will stay good. Check when getting gas or any stops.

The main reason for the front strap on most car systems is the up draft or what butthead referred to. More because of rack issues than anything. First, wind on many combined with canoe could rip many racks right off your car. Second, car size many times require you to put racks very close together resulting in canoes wanting to move around and requiring the need for the extra tie support. And it assures one more area of support should another strap should loosen. On my rig I have the ability to tie ends more securely with solid rack configuration. So a couple straps are usually all I need. If traveling through wind a second strap around the front end can greatly reduce the risk of a canoe being moved side to side or getting ripped off by the wind. Also gives me a little piece of mind as I worry greatly about what if the strap breaks and such. No matter how many canoes and what type of rack or system you use it is of great importance imo to get out and check your straps and such from time to time. It never hurts to stop if something is acting a little strange. One thing about tying front and back, if you have a lot of canoe hanging distance from rack to where your securing the end and you tighten the ends too much... and I'm talking mainly composite canoes... you can cause stress type cracks either from initial cranking down or on so tight and hitting a bump just right with no give. Hence the strap in back sort of compliments the strap in front. Most straps have enough give for this to a point.

quote TuscaroraBorealis: " :)"

I assume you pull the drain plug while traveling? Rain water could fill up the canoe. :)

quote Jackfish: "

quote TuscaroraBorealis: " :)"

I assume you pull the drain plug while traveling? Rain water could fill up the canoe. :)"

Pete, that's what drills and duct tape is for. :)