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Date:         Mon, 20 Aug 2012 09:49:02 -0500
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: semi-OT: questions about carrying a canoe
Comments: To: Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca>
In-Reply-To:  <D4A49137-0A33-4752-B8CA-C344EB2B0EE4@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

We don't normally do it that way down here either, Alistair. But, the reason is because it is typically impractical (most people don't have the standup racks to even carry a canoe on its side on a cartop), not because it is in any way bad for the canoe.

I went on a photo shoot a few years back with a bunch of carbon fiber Bells (any relation, Alistair?) and we put a kayak in the middle and a canoe on its side on each side of that on top of some kind of a toyota SUV, and a kayak and one sideways canoe on my westy, because they would not both fit flat. Went all over the place. What I worried about most was the gunwale of the canoe digging in to my poptop, so I used swim pads to help with that. Those boats were fragile, being fiber, but very light.

As the Executive Director of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, I help haul hundreds of boats a year around the state. The orientation of the boat has never been a problem as long as its is securely and competently fastened.

Jim

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 9:27 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:

> number of times I have seen a canoe carried on its side, trailer or car > top.... > > > scroll down: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > zero. > > > Honestly Jim. Things must be different down south, up here I never see it. > > Do a goole image search for "canoe trailer", how many images of canoes on > their sides on trailer? > > alistair > > > > > > On 2012-08-20, at 6:36 AM, Jim Felder wrote: > > > They are carried on their side on trailers all the time. Today's > question... what's the difference between a trailer rack and a cartop rack? > > > > Scroll down: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Today's answer: nothing, so far as the canoe is concerned. > > > > Furthermore, I would not get on the water in anything that couldn't hold > itself together on top of a car. > > > > Jim > > > > On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 8:31 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote: > > It will hurt some canoes for sure - cedar canvas, cedar strip. > > > > Aside from hurting the canoe, I bet having canoe on side puts more > strain on the hold down straps as you drive down the hwy. > > > > Felder Technologies International owns a few "no win, no fee" law firms > that do a good business in recovering damages from folk who's canoes come > flying off their cars. > > > > :) > > > > alistair > > > > > > On 2012-08-20, at 4:53 AM, Jim Felder wrote: > > > > > I have seen every kind of boat there is carried in every possible way, > with no harm done to any one them PROVIDED the equipment you have allows > you to lash it down securely. You might get some drag from a canoe on its > side, but if you secure it fore and aft as well as in the rack, it won't > hurt it. > > > > > > The problem you will face is rain. If that thing gets a few inches of > water in it, and it can blow in a lot more than the actual rainfall depth, > you will find out why people carry them upside down. > > > > > > Jim > > > > > > On Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 11:59 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> > wrote: > > > depends on the canoe, an old Grumman aluminium canoe could perhaps > take being on its side, but never a cedar canvas or stripper. I'd even be > loathe to do it to a plastic canoe :) > > > You have to consider the forces applied by the lashing straps, and the > dynamic things that go on when driving fast or over bumpy roads. > > > Kayaks are a different kettle of fish, river kayaks are ok on the side. > > > > > > alistair > > > > > > > > > On 2012-08-19, at 7:17 PM, Harry Hoffman wrote: > > > > > > > Hi All, > > > > > > > > So, I finally have managed to aquire some thule roof racks for the > van. > > > > > > > > Does anyone know if you can carry a canoe on its side when > travelling? > > > > > > > > I'd like to be able to carry a canoe and some other stuff but I have > a > > > > feeling if the canoe was flat I'd have no room for anything else. > > > > > > > > Anyone carrying one on its side? > > > > > > > > Cheers, > > > > Harry > > > > > > > > >


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