Canoe guys?

I would love to see any pics of racks for canoes or kayaks please! My daughter left her canoe outside for years...lots of fading.

The reason I would like to see racks, especially for an Avalanche.......We took our daughters old canoe on holidays. Length of canoe = 17ft, length of Avalanche 17'. Now then hubby is 6' 3" and myself 5' 5". I can't reach high enough or far enough over the truck. Because of my illness my strength is very limited. It was quite the sight when I lost my about an inch grip, all I had and the canoe starting to roll as I rolled with it out onto the road. Blk and blue but apparently it was very funny to watch, LOL

DJ.....my thoughts leave it on.

Thanks for posting photos. Very similar to what I've been thinking. Enjoy the good times.

I do agree that you should tie it down while in storage (but not with your travel straps). Those things do blow around!

I think the plastic gunwales are weatherproof and should flex with the hull.

Thanks everyone!!! I knew I'd have to secure it for storage with something different than those straps. Not sure what yet.

And I think I am going to mount an "eye" bolt through the top of the camper for a hold down with a steel cable for the bow, "just in case" a strap breaks at 95 MPH!!!! :B

DJ,

From my friends mistakes I have learned that in cold temps storing a Royalex Mad River canoe will crack the Royalex if you don't loosen the ash gunnels. Not sure if you are able to do that to yours or not. As others have mentioned I would give a good coat of 303 protectant. If not just throw a tarp over the canoe.

The nylon straps on my boat cover rotted due to UV exposure. Black is a great color for maximizing UV damage. Using yellow or blue (as Thule does) straps will provide longer life. The last thing I would want is to have a canoe flip off the camper while driving and possible cause a fatal accident for someone behind me.

Always good to have a place to store a canoe. Personally, since you are not driving down the road, facing 95 MPH wind (yeah I read how fast you drive) you are not going to need those tie down straps. Just reach up and tie off the canoe from inside to your brackets. So what if it moves around a bit. It is not like it is going to fly off. Also, I would put a bike lock on it too. If you remember my 2 kayaks in my trailer, they always had some heavy cardboard under the tie down straps, to help distribute the straps contact with my kayaks. They are out of the sun, but they do deal with long periods of being strapped to the wall of my trailer.

b

I would spray some Aerospace 303 protectant on it once in awhile and call it good. The sunlight will rot your rachet straps though.

Thanks everyone!! Looks like my canoe has found a new home!! It will be mostly shaded in the summer but don't really care if it fades anyway.

Here is a couple shots. I had my welding shop build it out of aluminum so I wouldn't have to worry about painting and rust.

Not real good pics but the best I could do with early morning sun and my jammed up parking!!!

I had stored my canoe outside for years. Biggest issue was fading. Now at 20 years old and inside storage available, I take advantage of that.

I would love to see a pic of the rack. In process of creating / buying one for my pop-up. I have hauled either the canoe or kayak many times on the top and tied it down to the jacks and truck. So need to simplify the process. I have ideas, but would love to compare thoughts.

;-)
Rich