Anyone have a fix for this? I usually stay closer to home with my solo boat, but want to venture further this weekend and speeds will be above 70. The rope I’m using to tie off to the front of the canoe will be rubbing on the cab of the truck and I can’t figure out a way around it. I don’t want the paint to rub off my truck. The back is secure.

Should I just tie it back to a crossbar?

Thanks!

Remove the front rope. Cross straps are plenty. Drive 60 mph.

bobbernumber3: "Remove the front rope. Cross straps are plenty. Drive 60 mph."

Ditto. Single bow or stern ropes accomplish next to nothing. Use two ropes on the stern pulling against each other (one to each side) to prevent any shifting from side to side.

You can also discourage lateral shift by moving the canoe off center, so one of the gunwales is above the rack "towers" and then secure your strap outside of the towers. If any slack develops in your current setup there is nothing to prevent the canoe and the straps from sliding back and forth.

The great thing about your set up is that there is enough distance between the racks to discourage lateral motion.

Just put a small piece of microfiber cloth under it. I used to do this before I got roof racks.

Thanks!

dshult2, thought about that too.

I don’t have this problem with longer boats on my truck.

Ditch the rope and invest in straps for front, back, and 2 across the top. 70 mph into head winds of up to 30 mph have not been an issue for me with paint friction and no canoe movement for a 12 hour drive each way on an annual basis. I still have the rope, but tying the canoe with it is no longer an option.

Buy some load stops or canoe stops. That boat wont move at all and you can easily ditch the front rope.

If you insist on using the front rope, I think you'd be just fine moving the whole canoe forward 12". But like others said, two belly straps and you should be golden. I never use a front rope, just belly straps.

While the front tie down is not technically necessary it is not there to keep the canoe from moving but there in case the main straps fail. While rare it does happen and with the way the canoe is strapped down you would never see your canoe moving if the straps began to fail. The best case scenario would be to mount your bars to the rain gutters on the cab of the truck and use loop straps on the hood but that would probably require buying all new towers.

dschult2: "While the front tie down is not technically necessary it is not there to keep the canoe from moving but there in case the main straps fail. While rare it does happen and with the way the canoe is strapped down you would never see your canoe moving if the straps began to fail. The best case scenario would be to mount your bars to the rain gutters on the cab of the truck and use loop straps on the hood but that would probably require buying all new towers."

The front and rear straps are essentially useless. if their purpose is as insurance "in case the main strap fails", you would be much better served to add another strap to the rack as "insurance".

I agree that the single bow line is just in the way; if all you want is a fail-safe just tie a short rope around a thwart and crossbar. You can also add some security by double-strapping; just add a second pair of straps from the other side so one set of straps pulls the boat to one side and the other set pulls towards the other side.

FWIW the Superior NF does not use bow or stern straps on their canoes, they put two straps over the hull sinched to the racks/crossbars.

I went to Alaska and back without bow or stern straps on my canoe, I think they are a waste of time and effort.

Just give me that canoe! It's too short. I'll give you a longer one! ??

dschult2: "While the front tie down is not technically necessary it is not there to keep the canoe from moving but there in case the main straps fail. While rare it does happen and with the way the canoe is strapped down you would never see your canoe moving if the straps began to fail. The best case scenario would be to mount your bars to the rain gutters on the cab of the truck and use loop straps on the hood but that would probably require buying all new towers."

If the main straps fail, I have a hard time believing that front tie down is going to do anything.

I believe in at least putting on a bow strap just in case! I have heard of cases where the whole rack tore off. I don't want my canoe flying off my vehicle and hitting another vehicle both for other peoples safety and liability!

pswith5: "Just give me that canoe! It's too short. I'll give you a longer one! ??"

Would you happen to have a Bell Northwoods 18 in pristine condition?

jwmiller39: "

dschult2: "While the front tie down is not technically necessary it is not there to keep the canoe from moving but there in case the main straps fail. While rare it does happen and with the way the canoe is strapped down you would never see your canoe moving if the straps began to fail. The best case scenario would be to mount your bars to the rain gutters on the cab of the truck and use loop straps on the hood but that would probably require buying all new towers."

If the main straps fail, I have a hard time believing that front tie down is going to do anything. "

Man, I opened up a whole can of worms here:-). You don't have to use one if you don't want to, I'm just stating what their purpose is. I use one because I'm overly cautious and it's cheap and takes me less than 5 minutes to tie on. I do not use a stern line though. But to the original post if I could not see my canoe and what it was doing either through my windshield or my mirrors I would use a bow line. At least that will give me a hint if anything starts to go wrong.

Would be an additional investment, but I'd get a single, bare-roof-compatible cross bar for above the front doors.

Something I’ve always wondered.

Couldn’t they make a mount for your vehicle that has rubber clamps or something on the mount that your canoe could just click on to?

End the tie down all together?

gbgraves: "Would be an additional investment, but I'd get a single, bare-roof-compatible cross bar for above the front doors."

I’ve thought about that in other instances, but the cab twists and turns independently from the bed/topper. I don’t like that idea on bumping back roads.

I have a similar model F150, with it looks like the same topper. I tried once mounting it like you have it, but quickly went to a separate cross bar above the front of the cab. 1 strap around each bar, no front or back tie downs.

Many many trips with a Kevlar Seliga mounted this way, and in the last year a Northwind Solo.

I agree there is a risk of bed movement separate from the cab, but it is typically minimal, in addition I have foam on my crossbars that has a little "give".

I'll see if I can find a photo, but I really like how the canoe is held on the ends rather than the middle (I've had some pretty strong crosswinds, plus the buffeting going around semis on the freeway). You are also in a place where the canoe is rapidly decreasing in size, so unless you have a complete failure of the strap, it is still going to hold the canoe position even if it loosens.

Tim

Small pool noodle(s) on rope.
Although, having close to the same issue: use two straps, one on each side at the back of the hood with attached rope/straps will give better lateral support for the canoe and lower the side to side movement. I use the straps that connect to a piece of hose and is held in place with the hood and fender.

It looks like you could slide the canoe forward, but as other's have said...just skip the bow line. Slide the canoe to the left or right and and tighten down the straps. You're good.

Wrap your crossbars with the big, thick pool noodles. Slide canoe forward a tick. I use four straps...two cam buckles straight across then two ratchet straps "X'd" from back bar to front bar.

Beautiful boat!

Paddle4Hike: "Beautiful boat! "

Thanks! Ordered it new in early 2018 from Piragis. Paid an additional $300 for wood trim; it’s up over $600 now!

BTW, I left the boat as in the picture, but added a second line to the back of the truck. All went well. No movement at all. Here in N. Michigan, speed limits are 75 mph…to put it in perspective. You’ll get run over doing anything less than 75.

I like the pool noodle idea with the line running through it at the front though…that someone posted above.