I purchased a second canoe which is about to be delivered. I'm going to have to store it hanging from the ceiling of the garage. I built a DIY hoist and tested it yesterday using the canoe I already own.

I've seen some suspension systems that hang the boat upside down like in the attached picture. Some others show the opposite, with the sling supporting the hull instead of the gunwales. Feels like the configuration shown in the picture is better, any thoughts?

Upside down prevents the accumulation of dust and debris.

Rather than rope running around the underside, potentially squeezing the gunwales, consider attaching the rope to a solid board or pole that would lay across the gunwales supporting the canoe without the squeeze.


Good Luck

OCDave: "Upside down prevents the accumulation of dust and debris.


Rather than rope running around the underside, potentially squeezing the gunwales, consider attaching the rope to a solid board or pole that would lay across the gunwales supporting the canoe without the squeeze.



Good Luck
"

That's exactly what I do with mine.

Another vote for boards supporting the inverted canoe by the gunwales. My Northwind 17 is 7' off the garage floor, which gives me walk-under room, but allows me to stash paddles and life jackets in the suspended canoe. And I don't use a hoist system--one end of each board is positioned by a knotted rope, while the other end of the board is held by an adjustable loop. The "loop" end of each board is closest to the garage doors. With boards out of the loops and hanging by the knotted ropes, we carry the canoe into the garage and position, then loop, the boards. Easy peasy.

I hang mine upside down on 2”x2” wood supports with eye bolts.
The life jackets are placed on the seats.
The paddles are laid from the thwart to the seat.

Yep, upside down. Not just for the dust, etc but storage of paddles, seat and pads. Never have enough storage space.

I'm with above - 2x3 trapezes. New garage had a"loft" at on end, so now a single trapeze - I set one end on loft and slip trapeze on other hand and lift.

3 canoes upside down on 2 8 foot 2X4s raised and lowered with an electric winch.

I'm a right side up guy! This allows me to back into the garage part way. Lower the front end of the canoe into the back of my pickup, then slide the canoe the rest of the way in. It is a Royalex, not a Kevlar canoe. When done paddling, I just reverse the order. The paddles and seats remain in the canoe the entire time. Not much lifting, the suspension system does most of the work. * I do use a reese hitch adapter to support the back of the canoe.*
There is no right or wrong, this just works good for me.

Right side up, cam straps looped on grab handles, hook end attached to hook in ceiling stud, pull up on one end lifting canoe as you pull, then repeat other end

campnfish: "Right side up, cam straps looped on grab handles, hook end attached to hook in ceiling stud, pull up on one end lifting canoe as you pull, then repeat other end "

Same for our two canoes that are hung in garage. Both Kevlar so my wife and I hang them in a couple minutes after use. Great storage inside the canoes too.

Thanks for all the input.

Half the fun was building the thing so I don't regret not using an easier method.

Mine are upside down on two 2x2 trapeze bars with a DIY hoist. Also I don't trust the ropes to support the boat so I attach a web strap over a rafter with a cam buckle to each cross bar using eye hooks.