How to Ship a Canoe Carrier

Canoe carriers, often called racks, fit on the top of your car, SUV or truck. Typical canoe carriers consist of a set of nylon straps, canoe saddles, and the rack bars and towers. Shipping canoe carriers is done either through the United States Postal Service or with independent shippers like UPS or FedEx. Pack the gear in foam peanuts, and make sure to take the measurements of the box so that you can confirm proper postage is charged.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • Box
  • Packing foam peanuts
  • Packing tape and utility knife
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wrap the nylon straps into coils and place them in the box. Wrap the saddles in foam and push them into the box. Slide the bars and towers into the sides of the box.

    • 2

      Stuff the box with foam packing peanuts or crumpled newspaper to prevent shifting during transit. Seal the box with packing tape, making sure to cover all of the seams on the cardboard. Mark the box with the shipper's tags, or write the shipping and return addresses directly onto the box.

    • 3

      Measure the box's dimensions. Measure the length, width and height of the box. Multiply both the width and the height by two and add those numbers to the length. For example, if your box is 4 feet long, 1 foot high and 1 foot wide, your calculation is 4 times 2 times 2, which yields 16 square feet.

    • 4

      Bring the box to a certified shipper of your choice and provide the dimensions to help calculate payment. Ask for a return receipt at the post office, which is similar to the tracking slip you get from UPS or FedEx.