Canoe-loading on a Car Solo!

Hi Guys!

So after waiting a long time to realise my dream of buying a canoe-this summer it finally happened!

At last!

It took time deciding which canoe to buy. After a lot of internet research, I finally decided.

The important thing was what I wanted to use it for (in the sea) and who I wanted to come with me....or was I going on my own.....food for thought!

I decided to buy a double sit-on canoe, which was light enough but could accomodate up to three people.....(of fairly small proportion!) I could use the canoe on my own which was great!

The canoe arrived and was beautiful.......but it is 4.5m long and 36 kgs.....something I realised but hadn't quite grasped when deciding!!

Question-"How am I going to put the canoe on top of the car on my own?"

4 x rachet straps

length of plywood 20mm minimum (3/4 inches) thick - in my case 2m long (6ft 61/2 inches) x 30cms wide(1 ft)

length of wood 50mm (2inches) x 100mm (4 inches)

4 screws 40mm (1 1/2 inches)

The canoe I bought has two detachable wheels at the back of the canoe on the underside of the body!

I had been thinking of trying to load the canoe on sideways. I was considering the parking possibilities at the coast and often vehicles are parked side-by-side. Therefore loading sideways was not an option!

I then considered the wheels and how I could push the canoe onto the roof rack backwards ( wheels first) and use them to load the canoe.

I have a saloon car with a boot so this would need to involve a ramp!

I decided to design a mini ramp.

The measurement from the rear roof rack to the boot lip was approx. 1.6 metres.....or 5ft. 3 inches!

I cut a plywood board 20mm thick to a length of 2m (6ft. 6 1/2 inches) as I wanted a lip to overhang the boot to put the rear wheels of the canoe on.

I then cut a length of 2" x 4" (50mm x 100mm) wood to 50cm ( 20 inches approx.)

I wanted this piece of wood to be slightly longer than the plywood board.

Screw the 2" x 4" length flush with the bottom of the plywood-in the middle 10cm either side.

Use the 4 screws and it helps to drill a pilot hole first. See photo!

At the top of the board-drill two holes in from the edge and big enough to put small rope through.

Put rope through the 2 holes at the top of the board and tie it to the rear roof rack!

Place a towel or something to protect the boot and pad the underside of the ramp!

Pick up the rear of the canoe and lift onto the 2" x 4" lip of the ramp!!!

Pick up the front of the canoe and push it up the ramp until it sits on the rear roof rack.....then push the canoe fully onto the front roof rack!

Undo the rope of the mini-ramp (you might need to wiggle the canoe to undo the rope) and remove the ramp.

Important: Make sure the canoe is balanced on top of the roof rack both lengthways and sideways!!!!

Use a rachet strap for each roof rack bar-throw the strap over the canoe and place under the roof rack-then throw it back over the canoe.

Do the same on the first point! Attach the rachet-thread the strap through the outside of the rachet and click until super tight!!!

Do the same on the other roof rack bar!

Then it is very important to attach the front and back of the canoe to the car so that there isn't any movement when travelling.

There is a metal towing loop at the front and back of my car. I attached the rachet strap to the canoe and then through the loop on the car-threaded the rachet and clicked until tight.

Remember to put the mini-ramp into the car before putting on the back strap!! You will need it to get the canoe off!

Repeat at the back of the car!

You should have a balanced canoe on top of your car which is safely secured!!!

This instructable will vary depending on your vehicle and type of canoe!!!
This design can be adapted in terms of length and width of the plywood board!!!

Happy Canoeing!!!!