How to Attach a Canoe to a Roof Rack

Actually, it's quite easy to attach a canoe to a car or truck roof rack. Simply flip it over and tie it down. That's fine as far as it goes, but if you'd like a quiet ride, a secure tie-down and to avoid scraping up your roof rack and the gunwales of your canoe, you might want to add a couple of steps to your tie-down procedure.

Things You'll Need

  • Bag of bungee cords
  • 2 hollow Styrofoam swimming "noodles"
  • Duct tape
  • Sharp knife
  • Bundle of zip ties
  • 2 ratchet tie-down straps
  • Tape measure
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set out your materials around the vehicle where you can get at them. Measure the distance across the roof rack from inside one rail to the other (not lengthwise). Cut off the Styrofoam noodles 4 inches shorter than the inside width between the roof rails.

    • 2

      Wrap duct tape around the noodles centered at 5 inches from both ends of each noodle. Use your knife to cut a slit in the noodle along one side from one piece of duct tape to the other. Cut through to the hollow core of the noodle but no further.

    • 3

      Pull apart the noodles along the slits and "bite" them down over the transverse rails of the roof rack. This will result in the center of the noodle being low down over the rail with the ends slightly elevated making a sort of foam cradle. Use zip ties to secure the noodles in place. You can clip them free after you are done.

    • 4

      Tie paddles and life jackets securely to the thwarts and under the seats inside the canoe. Make sure nothing is loose like buckles or handles. Lift the canoe and set it upside down on top of the rack in the center of the foam cradle on its gunwales (tops of the sides).

    • 5

      Bungee the canoe in place by running the bungee cords from one lengthwise roof rack rail across the top of the canoe to the other side. Make them firmly attached, but don't worry about the holding down the canoe. That's for the ratchet tie-downs.

    • 6

      Hook one end of the ratchet tie-down to the eye hook underneath the bumper of your vehicle that attached it to the assembly line during manufacture. Run the long loose (non-ratcheted) end of the tie-down up and through the metal eye or loop on the bow or stern of your canoe and across to the opposite side of the bumper. Attach the ratchet end of the tie-down to the other eye and thread the long end through the ratchet pulley. Pull slightly tight. Repeat on the back, but do not cinch it tight.

    • 7

      Cut the remaining Styrofoam noodle pieces into 4 sections. Split with a knife halfway through lengthwise, then pry apart each noodle and wrap it around the tie-downs on the front and back where the tie-downs rub against the hood or bumper. Throw a loop of duct tape around each to hold them in place.

    • 8

      Ratchet the tie-downs until they are tight. Start with the front, but just make it barely taut. Next go to the back and tighten that one securely. It will pull up the front of the boat and make the front tight as well. Go back to the front and make sure the tie-down is secure. Add a couple of pulls on the ratchet if needed. You are ready to to.