Date:         Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:37:47 -0400
Reply-To:     Gabriel Hourtouat <ghourtouat@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gabriel Hourtouat <ghourtouat@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: semi-OT: questions about carrying a canoe
In-Reply-To:  <SNT138-W46C75DDDA579AF3A8C0782B8B90@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

"...is it generally recommended to use the bars that fit into the
gutter, or to drill into the fibreglass and attach directly to the
poptop?..."

Jeff: No bars required -- foam blocks suffice.  Google search "canoe
on westfalia" to get some ideas.  One example:

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.westfalia.org/community/gallery/files/2/7/5/3/8/van-canoe.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.westfalia.org/community/gallery/showimage.php?i%3D1108&h=450&w=600&sz=48&tbnid=My5IwTtyiFTJyM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=120&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcanoe%2Bon%2Bwestfalia%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=canoe+on+westfalia&usg=__elNOfuXmbwn1CpjdqcezgAzDPkk=&docid=q8iXpjtORH9CXM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=jgszUKHpHsfrygGW_4HIBw&ved=0CFAQ9QEwAg&dur=495

I would choose some other position for the foam blocks so that the
canoe is not touching the van directly.  Could consider letting one
end hang off the back of the van sufficiently so that the other end is
in the luggage hold.

Or could consider strapping a bar across the luggage hold to gain some
clearance or stability with the canoe resting on foam blocks at the
rear end of the pop top, depending on canoe length and beam.

gabby

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!

Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com

The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.