Date:         Mon, 12 Jun 2000 08:52:02 -0400
Reply-To:     Doug Alcock <dgalcock@HEWITT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Doug Alcock <dgalcock@HEWITT.COM>
Subject:      Re: [WESTY] Canoe on poptop - too much weight?
Comments: To: Todd Guttman <tguttman@COLUMBUS.RR.COM>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

The foam blocks work just fine. I put a lot of miles on a 77 Westy with a
17 ft Coleman canoe on top over an 8 year period. I've now got an '84 Westy and
our new 16 ft fibreglas
Prospector clone rode happily on its top for the first time this weekend. I use
two
ratchet cargo straps (hooked to the rain gutters) over the top and a couple more
at the
front and back. On my old westy I just used two ropes over the top and one at
the front.
I've *never* had a problem with movement. However, I got to thinking that I
could get
a couple of straps with hooks (or just ropes) to go from the hooks in the
luggage
rack back to the first handy thwart/seat. This way I'd *know* that the canoe
couldn't possibly
slide back (not that it ever has) and that even if two or three of the tie-downs
magically failed at once the canoe would still stay attached. Incidentally, a
great place to
store your PFD's and paddles while in transit is in the canoe --- I stuff the
life  jackets
in a dry bag along with the paddle blades and the the whole thing wedges
(rattle-free and dry)
under the rear seat of the canoe while driving.

Cheers,
Doug
'84 Westy
Toronto, Canada



>I'd like to ask the Westy members of the group if any of them strap their
>canoe(s) directly on the poptop.  We've currently got a 17' Mad River
>Royalex canoe but the hull has a moderate rocker (curve).  Thus, we can't
>directly put in on the roof with foam blocks.
>
>We're contemplating purchasing a new canoe with a straight hull - an Old
>towne Discovery Sport 13'.  I'd like to toss it up on top using foam blocks
>instead of messing with the racks.  Is the 80 pound weight too much for the
>poptop?
>
>Thanks for any advice/comments.
>
>Todd Guttman
>Columbus, Ohio
>
>85 Westy Rivendell