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Date:         Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:59:00 -0500
Reply-To:     jpalmer@MYMTS.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff Palmer <jpalmer@MYMTS.NET>
Subject:      Re: semi-OT: questions about carrying a canoe
In-Reply-To:  <CAFnDXk2HFh_YM=5yfdGNx_9443T0JoyNy64ZSQhLnbfJysLKLw@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Thanks everyone for all the input! As mentioned I have a Westfalia so I appreciate that removing the rack out of the gutters is inconvenient. For me though drilling into the fibreglass is not desirable unless absolutely necessary. I hate putting holes into things that didn't come with holes. Or doing something that can't be undone. I was also worried about weight - if it would cause stress and crack the top. But I have used foam blocks in my younger days and secured it fore, aft, and side to side to the point where it wouldn't budge an inch. All that changed with a good thunderstorm. The combination of a little moisture to lubricate and strong cross winds had that thing swaying about six inches back and forth. Never again. Jeff

> Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:32:00 -0500 > From: jim.felder@GMAIL.COM > Subject: Re: semi-OT: questions about carrying a canoe > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > > My friends and I ALWAYS manage to tie down laterally. Simple for-and-aft > lashing is not enough; I can put you in touch with people who have skidded > a new boat down the interstate at 70, and they are lucky that's all that > happened. The westy has metal cleats that can be use, one strap pulling to > each side. On other cars, including tintop vanagons, we pass the straps > through the car with the windows down and then roll them up when the boat > is secure. You can also close the back doors on the straps in some cars, > but more water gets in if it rains than just having the windows cracked. > > You can't do it on a westy because of the screens. But as I said, with the > cleats up top, you don't really need to. I make sure my straps (cam locks) > share the load through several cleats, never just one. > > Jim > > On Tue, Aug 21, 2012 at 10:09 AM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote: > > > ---- WELLHOUSE MAX <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET> wrote: > > > > > > My final point to this subject is that the cheapo kits have NO way of > > > lashing the canoe laterally to prevent cross winds from blowing the boat > > > off the van. YMMV > > > > Well, as one who has used foam blocks to transport a canoe (not on a > > Vanagon), I can say that lateral lashing is certainly possible, as I have > > done it. Every canoe has thwarts running gunwale to gunwale. Everyone can > > make use of lines from the thwarts to automotive pillars. That might be > > more difficult on a Vanagon (or any van) than on a sedan. The foam block > > kits as sold are completely inadequate. > > > > But, a good rack is far better, and I gave up using foam blocks after an > > experience that made me believe I could lose the canoe despite lashing to > > the best of my ability. mcneely > > > > > > DM&FS > > > > > > On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 11:37 PM, Gabriel Hourtouat < > > ghourtouat@gmail.com>wrote: > > > > > > > "...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 > > > > > > > > -- > > David McNeely > >


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