How to strap a Canoe to roof racks - The best way to tie a canoe to your roof

[@moddan31]

I’d recommend not to throw the buckle to avoid accidental damage to your vehicle. Keep the buckle idle and throw the opposite side of the strap.

[@zackfiddis5389]

For sure! This was my wifes car (dont tell her)... But the rubberized buckle protectors on the NRS Straps are very gentle ;)

[@dontall71]

He just got through describing the protective backing material, then proceeds to throw the buckle, banging into the car window on the other side, not cool

[@bethwright8595]

I generally agree with throwing the non-buckle end of the strap over your vehicle, but sometimes it's too windy to do that. I've had times when I've tried to throw it three or four times before I actually got the strap over the vessel somewhere near where it needed to be! I've tried to walk it around but I'm not really tall enough for that and it's far more trouble than what I'm about to describe. I've figured out how to safely throw the buckle end of a strap over your vehicle and vessel, and it's not very complicated. Simply figure out how much of the strap you need to reach the other side where you want the buckle to be, and throw the buckle holding the strap such that no more of it can be released than what's needed to get it to the other side. You can easily do this calculation sometime when you're removing the straps to take your vessel off your vehicle. I've never done this but you could mark the spot with a sharpie so you remember where to hold the strap. I measured it initially by stretching the strap out against my out my arm, and I can do that each time I need to. My vessel's actually a kayak and the two places where it sits on the bars of my roof rack differ in width, so I had to figure this out twice but it's not like it's rocket science! I just wanted to warn people that this may be the case with some canoes, too, although I wouldn't expect the difference to be as dramatic. Happy paddling! 🛶

[@wendyrogers5296]

Thank YOU!! I was so nervous strapping my canoe to the top of my car for an annual trip to Algonquin Park (did I say I am 70 years old?) and with your easy to understand video I have done a perfect job!! Much appreciated

[@paultyson9070]

I'm glad to see that you showed the most important step .....( flicks strap ) ...... "That's not going anywhere." 🤣😂🤣

[@FrontenacOutfitters]

Safety first! 😆

[@jimmorrison306]

With any secured load, I like to go 20 or 30 minutes down the road and check the load a second time. Motion and bumps often cause things to shift.

[@pappy451]

i do that with any load i am hauling too . good habit . i have only lost something off my load one time and it wasn't me that tied it in , it was a friend and i didn't check after him . that never happened again .

[@jimquantic]

Thank you. One tip on the trucker's hitch, after taking the tension, wind one knot over, one under, cinch them together. They will never loosen up. Very nice video, thanks again.

[@BrantShields-h1w]

That's not going anywhere. Great video. Useful details but still concise. Thanks!

[@jimsteel7483]

If you use a flat strap, and there is a space between it and the keel, it will start to act as a reed and vibrate at highway speeds. The tighter it is, the higher the pitch. That was last year. This year I'm using 6mm climber's cord for all four attachment points. Good video, Zack.

[@MrF4tty]

If you twist the flat strap it will stop the flapping as well.

[@kenseeley3761]

Very informative and to the point! Thank you!!

[@MarcTelesha]

I started tying the front and rear carry handles to the crossbars. It's super fast and also clear view of the road and no vibrations. I just use the cams on all 4 straps. Two on the top and two on the handles.

[@hectorescobar9200]

That is exactly why I am looking for videos to answer that question. That's the question I have, can you just tie your bow and stern to the cross bars? My worry is that the hood tie downs would scratch up your paint.The only think I can think of is if your roof rack fails and that is where you have all your connection points.

[@drewed1781]

@@hectorescobar9200 I also came to this video to answer this question.

[@MarcTelesha]

@@hectorescobar9200 I have done it for years and I have traveled hundreds of miles tied this way. I have two straps on the top and then two on the cross bars.

[@mwagner1996]

I was thinking about doing the same thing! Glad to hear someone else has done it with success. Seems like it would be easier, work just as well, and not impact visibility. I've heard some concerned that there could be enough lift force at high speeds to have the roof rack come off, but I don't feel like that's likely with an 80lb canoe. Even at highway speeds.

[@thomasbooth9079]

Carry handles can break, mine have.

[@zaviwaher9536]

I found that if I feed the strap around the rack bars one side once creates a stopper for canoe moving side to side. This helps if the bars are round and there very little friction with the gunnels. When driving for a few hours on the highway or when it is very windy it seems to help keeping canoe from shifting

[@scooper4981]

Very helpful. Thank you for posting this. I, too, struggled with finding an attachment points for the bow and stern tie-offs. Had no idea about the "quickie hood loop." A "game changer."

[@zackfiddis5389]

Thanks for watching

[@joannabettman2123]

Thats a real nice canoe

[@FrontenacOutfitters]

It is for sure, H2O Canoes certainly makes some really nice canoes; some of which, like this Horizon 17', are quite lightweight, and fast! Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.

[@JA-gx4hb]

Pretty good job. Side to side, as well as up and down motion is controlled pretty good with just the wrap around straps. A couple of comments... Your ties look super secure, for driving around, but what happens when you execute a panic stop? The down friction of the wrap around straps keep the boat from sliding forward on gradual stops, but a sudden stop from 75 mph? The way your bow straps are angled towards the front of the car will help keep the canoe from sliding back, like if you were rear ended, but... Your stern line going straight down won't keep the boat from going forward until it moves quite a bit, maybe ending up with the bow on the hood of the car. I think you should tie a line from the front of the canoe (maybe a seat or cross member), straight back to the rack, or better yet over the roof right down to a trailer hitch or something secure in the rear. That line will stop the boat going forward on a sudden stop, your stern line (and your wrap around straps as well) will keep your bow up.

[@kylenoonan313]

Thanks. This was very helpful.

[@djhagrid300]

I use ratchet straps, but I have an aluminum canoe. I think it's mostly about placement and finesse when it comes to ratchet straps. Don't crank it down, don't rest the ratchet on the side of the canoe, or put down a cloth or foam under the ratchet and tie it onto the ratchet after you've tightened it down. If you have ratchet straps, I don't recommend buying a secondary product just to carry a canoe or kayak. If you have rope, you can use rope, if you know how to tie a knot with the rope you have. Keep in mind, a canoe only weighs around 70lbs, depending on the material, but you have to remember that the canoe will be catching the wind and the force put on the line could exceed 200lbs at highway speeds. I always recommend using two straps, as shown here, and always tying a line onto the bow and the stern as an extra precaution. As said in the video, you are responsible for securing your load. If it comes loose and damages another vehicle or injures someone, you will be liable for that, even if the straps you used were rated for your load and you took necessary precautions. Test your straps, and inspect them for fraying or damage every time you go to use them. Never use frayed or damaged straps or rope.

[@superdkano]

Hey man, a big thank you for this vid. Really well explained and totally helped me transport my new canoe.

[@dznfishing]

Thanks just picked up a set for my yak. Switched from using ratchet straps.

[@BrandLmedia]

Great video!! Thanks a lot 🌞

[@paulw6396]

Thanks this really helped me today!

[@adzharrold5952]

Excellent video, thanks

[@FrontenacOutfitters]

Glad you liked it!

[@timelessadventurer]

My rav4 has no connections in the rear and front so this was an awesome loop to see for the hood and trunk!

[@FrontenacOutfitters]

Happy we could help!

[@peterbarlow8912]

I had old Foresters and they all had dual recovery eyes under the front.

[@StroMedia]

Great video - just found your channel and subscribed. I like your approach. Thanks.

[@jeanlouisroederer5140]

Good job with how to tie down the canoe. I wish you had shown how to get the canoe onto the roof rack if you're solo. Wouldn't want to damage the vehicle.

[@SgtMac80]

Well done. Thanks Buddy

[@FrontenacOutfitters]

No problem, and thanks!

[@tombowes9387]

Strapping my Bluewater canoe onto my '87 LandCruiser was such a breeze. You might think a brand new Highlander SPORT utility vehicle would have eyeholes for hooking straps to the bow and stern of your canoe! Nope. Baffling really. Anyway thanks for the easy solution - just placed my order.

[@tif321dc]

Great job just curious why you didn't also use the straps for the front and rear? Thank you

[@moer9036]

What kind straps for front and rear ? The rope is to complex

[@tombeckett4340]

Cool nice and easy. Thanks 🇨🇦👍

[@Doc-zg3xm]

Thanks , great video.

[@zackfiddis5389]

Thanks for watching!

[@maxpanicked1451]

very succinct and helpful. thank you.

[@angusnel8354]

Finish off your strap by wrapping around rail and tie end with a clove hitch knot.

[@Lvtinstallion]

Do I’ve to run these anchor lines on the trunk and hood always? Does just the ties on the roof rack enough?

[@robertotiraboschi1960]

Muy bueno..lo voy a hacer..gracias por compartirlo

[@zackfiddis5389]

Gracias por ver

[@dturn03]

I’ve always used gunnel blocks. Have you found them unnecessary?

[@markcummings6856]

👍. Thanks

[@elisafabian4345]

Hi! How do you tie it down to the back? Did you add something to your Prius?

[@TheNewMediaoftheDawn]

Good🎉

[@NikaidouStep]

A little worried about doing this since I have a heavier canoe. It weight is around 100lbs. Would this method still be good?

[@shawnaschlechter5268]

What are the loops called and where do i get? I lost my husband 2 years ago and a friend is giving me a canoe so me and my best friend can take my 6 and 8 year old to Florida springs. I have a 2019 dodge caravan. I going to be rehabbing the canoe. Is there anything you suggest to add to canoe?

[@Edward-fw2hy]

Great video! Just wondering if the Dodge Caravan (2014) roof rack is structurally sound for mounting a canoe ???

[@shermanhofacker4428]

The rear tie down is wrong. The attachment points on the canoe should never be out from the anchor point on the vehicle. Visualize the canoe being stretched by the end tie downs. The canoe in the video example would be bowed up by the tiedowns. Rope at the rear could have been tied onto the seat thwart for a good tie in point.

[@puma3620]

Good point, you'd want the front and back ropes to slope in opposite directions, so that they are pulling in opposite directions. With the way it's set up in the video, both lines are sloping parallel, and both preventing the canoe from sliding backward. If you slam on the brakes and the top straps fail, the canoe will travel a good distance forward before the ropes are activated.

[@drboone357]

Correct

[@AFS-ht7bg]

It won't bother the canoe. Been doing it for 41 years. My dad for 74 years. Maybe one of the new wimpy canoes but not an aluminum one.

[@sampledrummer4514]

What kind of roof rack setup you recommend for 2017 RAV4 for canoe?

[@choonghyunchoi82]

Can I ask the length of the straps you used? 12ft or 20ft? Thank you!

[@Habsolutely]

cant wait to take my Esquif Adirondack out using this method.

[@gurglejug627]

yeah, but put bungees, (what I think you septics call 'shock cord') between each set of straps - stops the wind vibration and noisy/damaging resonance.

[@MrBluoct]

Between🤔

[@gurglejug627]

@@MrBluoct yes mate - strap on your normal load holding straps and then hook an elastic bungee between them so it damps them and stops them from going into resonance and vibrating (noisy and damaging) when driving.

[@847evan]

What if the canoe doesn’t have carry handles on front and rear - how would do you attach the front and back?

[@vicpetrishak1077]

Slit one side of two pool noodle and place on both gunwales and secure with quality 1” racket straps . ( not garbage freight straps )

[@Venom-nk8nd]

Nylon stretches though 🇵🇬

[@adkbeau]

I always go through the car and tightener inside car

[@davidb9150]

If you tie off every thing to crossbar you have no backup plan so no insurance . I more so relied on hood and back mount then all of the rest

[@nikwax]

How does the hood loop not abrade the vehicle paint? I had a truck with the type that attached to a bolt under the hood, and I definitely had abrasions on the paint where those rubbed. OK if your car is naff, definitely not ok on a newish vehicle.

[@mbrent_s742]

Using the hood loop ruined the paint on my RAV4. The loop vibrates on the highway.

[@prospector14]

I slip a short piece of bicycle inner tube over the strap at the point where the strap contacts the paint. Never get a scratch.

[@AFS-ht7bg]

​@@prospector14oooo good thinking!

[@invictusbp1prop143]

Man, if somebody was throwing those buckles around in my vehicle like that, I’d probably give em a beating.

[@matthewrhoads560]

“Dont use ratchet straps to avoid damage to canoe” “throws buckle onto canoe”

[@zackfiddis5389]

Busted haha... The NRS Buckle protector is seriously gentle. And what's another scratch on the canoe anyway? I would def not be throwing ratchet straps over, but the biggest issue is overtightening or having the ratchet mechanism pressing against the canoe and causing extreme wear really quickly while traveling. Plenty of people use ratchet straps, I am just not a fan! Thanks for watching

[@Connor_Dempsey]

@@zackfiddis5389 plus most people don't know how to insert and remove ratchet straps properly

[@naclassics]

Nylon ropes are NOT no-stretch, as you indicate. Polypropylene ropes are no-stretch.

[@lolcatmaroon]

I don't know why I watched this after wrongly using racket straps to bring a canoe home from FB marketplace...🤦‍♂️

[@leoantonio]

“Reefin’ on it”?

[@murjonl]

Could be a 3.min video

[@harrypalms1]

Don't listen to this guy. Ratchet straps are the best.