Ways to Transport Your Canoe Even Without a Rack

If you’ve ever owned a canoe, then you are probably aware of the difficulty of transporting it in a car. It is especially true if you own an older model without a rack for securing it.

This article will help you transport your canoe even without a rack!

A Little about Transporting Canoe Without a Rack

For a canoeing enthusiast, transporting the canoe from the parking lot to the water is common. The easiest way to reduce hassle is to attach a rack to the back of the canoe. However, the canoe rack is relatively expensive, and it adds drag to your car.

As such, you may want to transport your canoe without a rack. To do this, you will need a few tools. Afterward, you can follow eight simple steps to transport the canoe efficiently.

Things You Will Need

We have researched and rounded up a list of items you will need to transport your canoe safely. We will lay out the list for you,

A fold-up canoe dolly or trolley
Four pack of ratchet straps
Two 8′ universal extendable pipe
Four foam canoe block
Tie-down or rope
Cloth or towel

What to do, in brief

After securing the necessary items, follow these steps,

Attach Dolly to Canoe and Secure it with Ratchet Straps
Flip the Canoe Wheel to Vehicle
Attach Extendable Pipes to Vehicle Roof with Straps
Slide the Canoe on Top of the Pipes
Place Foam Supports to Hold the Canoe
Remove Dolly & Plastic Pipes
Use Tie-Downs to Secure Canoe in Place
Add Cloth or Towel to Protect Paint

How to Approach, Step by Step, in Detail

Step 1 Attach Dolly to Canoe and Secure it with Ratchet Straps

Fold open the dolly and place it on the stern of the canoe. Make sure that the wheels are facing up. Use ratchet straps to secure the fold-up trolley in place.

It is possible to use a battery dolly for a smaller, lightweight canoe. However, it is better to rely on a sturdy trolley when transporting a heavy canoe.

We recommend using a metal frame canoe trolley with foam bumpers to prevent damage.

Step 2 Flip the Canoe Wheel to Vehicle

A helpful rule of thumb is to transport your canoe upside down. This way, the canoe won’t catch rainwater and have better balance on top of the car.

Now, to flip the canoe, stand near the bow. Slightly bend the knees and keep your back straight to engage most of your leg muscles. Grasp the gunwale with both hands and roll the canoe up onto its side. Push slightly and keep a tight grip while slowly lowering the flipped canoe on the ground.

Make sure that the trolley wheels land correctly on the ground. These wheels will protect the stern from abrasion. In addition, laying out a cloth, towel beside the canoe before flipping it will protect the paint.

Step 3 Attach Extendable Pipes to Vehicle Roof with Straps

The Universal Extendable pipe is ideal for getting your canoe on the car roof. They are soft, sturdy, and flexible enough to ensure the process goes smoothly.

Lay one end of the pipe on the car roof, then extend it until it covers the entire width of the top. Secure it in place with a ratchet strap. Repeat the process with the second extendable pipe. Afterward, you should end up with two tubes on the car’s roof parallel to the front and back seat.

We recommend placing a cloth or towel under the pipes as a second layer of protection.

Step 4 Slide the Canoe on Top of the Pipes

Hold the bow section of the canoe with both hands and lift it to your core level. It will angle the canoe where the majority of the weight goes the trolley wheels under the stern.

Push the canoe back and then pull it to the back of your car. Lift the bow, so it is higher than the pipes on the car roof. Slowly lower the canoe on the tube. Then, use the trolly wheels to push and slide the canoe on top of the extendable pipes.

Pushing the canoe in a straight line will prevent it from accidentally slipping off.

Step 5 Place Foam Supports to Hold the Canoe

Place each canoe foam block near the place where the canoe touches the pipe. The blocks should be on the opposite sides of each other for better support.

Balancing the canoe requires efficient placement of the foam blocks. Depending on the shape of the canoe, you may need to customize your foam support strategy.

You may find it easier to use a wide-mouth canoe foam block.

Step 6 Remove Dolly & Plastic Pipes

Leaving the dolly, trolley attached to the canoe is not unexpected. Furthermore, the pipes would also be excellent protection for the canoe. However, it is better to remove them both for efficient transport.

Any additions not firmly attached to the canoe or the car are not safe for a long trip. The metal dolly or trolly has its weight which can easily unbalance the canoe. Moreover, the canoe can slide off from its position with the pipes.

Keep an eye on the canoe’s balance while removing the dolly & plastic pipe.

Step 7 Use Tie-Downs to Secure Canoe in Place

Cam buckles are ideal for securing canoe on the roof. A rope, bungee cord, or ratchet strap can also keep the canoe in place.

Use the tie-down to bind the canoe centerline with the car roof. Three binds on the middle are proper. Then, use long ropes, bungee cords to tie the bow and stern with the car. As for the knots, the trucker’s knot is suitable for canoe transport.

Quick-release hooks with ropes can speed up the process.

Step 8 Add Cloth or Towel to Protect Paint

Each tie-down points run the risk of damaging the paint. Applying a protective layer of towel or cloth will go a long way in preserving the coating.

Add a piece of cloth under the tie downs where they touch the canoe, car. Using a towel is even better as it would be less slippery and have more cushioning.

Cloths and towels can be helpful to prevent accidental grazes.

A Few Tips & Tricks

Replace Extendable Pipe With Pool Noodle

If Extendable Universal Pipes are not available, it is possible to use pool noodles to replace them. If you are going with pool noodles, it is best to use the beefier noodle to support the canoe’s weight.

Use Removable Hood & Trunk Tie Down

Sometimes, there are no convenient places on the car to attach tie-downs. Using the removable hood and trunk tie-downs can easily take care of this problem.

Place Reusable Zip Tie

Instead of the rope, bungee cord, a reusable zip tie can be of use when securing the bow and stern of the canoe. A 12″ zip tie does the trick in a flash.

Resize Ratchet Straps

Ratchet straps can be way too long, and the extra length can cause severe damage when they tangle up. Cutting the straps to a proper size will make canoe transporting easier.

Use Extended Foam Blocks

Canoe foams with a better grip are a definite plus for supporting the canoe on top of the car. A more extended block with quality foam is ideal for canoe transportation.

Put Up a Red Flag

Consider putting up a flag when transporting your canoe. A visible red flag will aid the nearby people, vehicle to notice your cargo faster.

Cover the Hull

It is unlikely that your canoe hull will receive damage from debris when it’s flipped. However, an extra layer of netting can help to protect the hull and give you peace of mind.

Bottom Line

Transporting your canoe without a rack requires a bit of practice. Even if you own a large, weighty canoe, it should still be possible to transport it without a frame. Hopefully, this DIY guide showed you a general image of the items you need and how to use them.

Plus, every time you haul your canoe while following this strategy, you will most likely develop even better ways to go about it!

Hope you enjoy reading Canoe Even Without a Rack and you are interested to read more Types of Canoe Shapes.

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