How to Load Canoes on a Roof Rack

Canoes bring excitement and adventure to outdoor enthusiasts, but unless you have a lake in your backyard, you need to transport your canoe to the water. Loading it onto a canoe trailer is the easiest way, but trailers are expensive and not all cars can haul them. If you have a roof rack on your car, you can load your canoe onto it. With just a few straps and ropes, you can load the canoe and be on your way to adventure.

Things You'll Need

  • Canoe-carrier brackets
  • Cam-buckle straps, 2
  • Ropes, 2
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Instructions

    • 1

      Attach the canoe-carrier brackets to the car's roof rack by following the manufacturer's instructions. All car racks have a front bar and a rear bar. Mount two brackets on each bar -- one on the driver side and one on the passenger side. Most car rack companies make a bracket that fits its system. If yours doesn't, then look for an after-market product.

    • 2

      Pick up the stern of the canoe and have a friend pick up the bow. Flip the canoe upside down and lift it onto the roof rack. Adjust the canoe so it's centered on the roof.

    • 3

      Move the canoe-carrier brackets until they rest against the canoe's gunwales. Once all four are tight against the gunwales, the canoe won't slide from side to side on the rack.

    • 4

      Loop a cam-buckle strap around the front roof rack on the passenger side. Pull both sides of the strap over the canoe and loop one under the driver side rack. Insert the loose end of the strap into the cam-buckle and tighten the strap by pulling it. Repeat with the rear rack.

    • 5

      Tie a rope to the passenger side of your front bumper. Then run the rope up through the canoe's handle and back down to the driver's side of the front bumper, then tie it to the driver's side. If there's any extra rope, secure it to itself using a tautline hitch (See "Resources"). Repeat for the back of the car.