Click to View the Full Thread

Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Hauling a canoe
 
Author Message Text
Ausable
01/03/2018 12:55PM
 
Wick's storage system is really slick, but I don't have the room for something like that. I hang my one canoe upside down from the garage ceiling.

 
WIMike
01/03/2018 01:07PM
 
Wick: "you can go buy those cheap foam blocks and strap it to her car for temp solution. I used them on a suv for bringing home a heavy royalex canoe. I don't want that as a long term thing, but it was cheaper and easier then buying lumber and building that day. Cabelas sells them, or if you have any 4-5 inch foam laying around , it is cheap and easy. Tie both ends too!
Here is hornbeck guy showing how,
loading with foam blocks "



I used the foam blocks for years with a fiberglass duck skiff. Worked OK but was time consuming. I like the bed rack idea. Will have my handy brother build a rack for me but for initial haul I'll use the blocks.
BTW I cringed when he threw the buckle end of the strap over the top and it banged into the canoe.
 
WIMike
01/03/2018 04:39PM
 
Grizzlyman, your wood rack looks great, functional and sturdy. Is it easy to remove and install? I know treated lumber is pretty heavy.
 
Grizzlyman
01/03/2018 05:28PM
 
It's not light but not too heavy. Again, I would recommend doing something similar but with posts in the post holes instead if you can. That would require about half the lumber. Use carriage bolts so it can be taken down for storage.

 
Grizzlyman
01/03/2018 05:32PM
 
Here's an awesome thread with a bunch of pics on homemade racks.

The link tool isn't working. You'll have to paste in browser:

http://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=1018669&forumID=12&confID=1
 
Wick
01/03/2018 10:31AM
 
you can go buy those cheap foam blocks and strap it to her car for temp solution. I used them on a suv for bringing home a heavy royalex canoe. I don't want that as a long term thing, but it was cheaper and easier then buying lumber and building that day. Cabelas sells them, or if you have any 4-5 inch foam laying around , it is cheap and easy. Tie both ends too!
Here is hornbeck guy showing how,
loading with foam blocks
 
Wick
01/03/2018 11:19AM
 
i store all my canoes upside down like ozarkpaddler shows in his pic with the truck. Here is a pic of my rack. You can hang them like you suggest, out of the way above you. I see lots of them like that.
 
Grizzlyman
01/03/2018 04:26PM
 
+1 on the bed rack.


Put posts in box "post holes". My truck has a tonneau cover that covers the post holes so I have a wooden box to which I fasten the canoe.



 
Duckman
01/03/2018 06:20PM
 
Getting my Wenonah Fisherman up and down off my truck was just too much of a pain.


So I cheated and just got one of these when it was on a really good deal and adjusted the rails: Link
 
TominMpls
01/03/2018 06:33PM
 
WIMike: "
Edit—I plan to hang it from the ceiling of my garage. Is that the best way, or at least an acceptable way, to store it? If I end up storing it on the floor is it best right side up, upside down or on its side?"



I came up with what I think is a pretty clever mounting system suspended from my garage joists, cost me a total of about $20. I got four three-foot threaded rods, two three-foot 1x2, four 90 degree fastener brackets, a bunch of nuts and washers, and six feet of pipe insulation. Using the brackets, I hung the rods down from the ceiling, put the 1x2 across the bottom, and wrapped the pipe insulation around the rods. I put the two about 15 feet apart, with the back one about five feet from the back wall of the garage and the near one about a foot from the front. I can literally walk the canoe in on my shoulders, up and into the back hanger, then slide it back into the front hanger. Same thing in reverse to get it out.


I can't get a picture to upload right now but I'll upload one later.
 
TominMpls
01/03/2018 10:36PM
 

 
WIMike
01/03/2018 07:37AM
 
Looking to get a 16-17 foot canoe and have a shortbed half ton pickup and wife’s Lincoln MKX crossover. Long term plan is a bed extender for pickup but for initial haul after purchase what’s my best option? Strapped in bed of pickup? If so, upside down or right side up? Or is it best to strap it upside down on wife’s car (no luggage rack)? Thanks

Edit—I plan to hang it from the ceiling of my garage. Is that the best way, or at least an acceptable way, to store it? If I end up storing it on the floor is it best right side up, upside down or on its side?
 
vinnie
01/03/2018 08:33AM
 
Build a rack out of lumber for the truck to get it home. then check out spring creek for their truck racks, they are very nice

 
ozarkpaddler
01/03/2018 08:36AM
 
Strapped in the bed it can easily "Wear" so I would only do that with royalex, poly, aluminum, etc. NOT composites like kevlar and glass. Even if you put paddling underneath and around, it will find a place to rub, like the stem. But, for a short ride...... I would get a dedicated truck rack as soon as you can. There are many brands/options. I have a Yakima Outdoorsman and it's been on a few trucks and is over 10 years old now:



 
WIMike
01/03/2018 09:03AM
 
ozarkpaddler: "Strapped in the bed it can easily "Wear" so I would only do that with royalex, poly, aluminum, etc. NOT composites like kevlar and glass. Even if you put paddling underneath and around, it will find a place to rub, like the stem. But, for a short ride...... I would get a dedicated truck rack as soon as you can. There are many brands/options. I have a Yakima Outdoorsman and it's been on a few trucks and is over 10 years old now:


Not sure why I didn't think of a rack but that's a great idea. Thanks

 
ozarkpaddler
01/03/2018 10:20AM
 
Occasionally we have extra boats running shuttles and when I put a boat in back, I usually fasten a PFD to the stem and "Snug" it into the driver's side corner. Don't forget to use a red or orange flag on the end to warn folks. And beware of railroad crossings, they're rough on a boat in the bed if you hit them too fast. Learn from MY mistake (LOL)!
 
MHS67
01/04/2018 08:40PM
 
If you have a friend with a lumber rack that will fit your truck, that might be a short term solution till you decide which way you want to go. I used mine this past summer and it worked fine. Drove just shy of 6000 miles. The 2 best parts are, you don't have to tie the bow and stern because the tie down straps are far enough apart. Second I use the rack all the time to haul pipe and lumber!
 
Blatz
01/04/2018 09:44PM
 
Is your truck a crew cab? For my Toyota Tundra Crew cab I use Yakima towers and bars on the roof area only. I carry my Northstar Northwind 17 on there with great results. 500 miles each way from Northern Il to Ely. Hanging from the ceiling in your garage is a great way to store your canoe. Hang it upside down. Make sure it's not such a hassle to get the canoe up or down. I use a hoist system you can get at Menards. Cheap and easy to install.
 
Lotw
01/11/2018 09:29AM
 
I was going to build but the price on the sportsmans guid aluminum rack was too good to pass up. I really like it, money well spent. The only drawback is the top bars aren't long enough for 2 canoes.
 
ozarkpaddler
01/11/2018 09:55AM
 
Lotw: "I was going to build but the price on the sportsmans guid aluminum rack was too good to pass up. I really like it, money well spent. The only drawback is the top bars aren't long enough for 2 canoes. "


Wow, that looks like a really good deal? Good luck!