Here's someone that actually thinks a Coleman is a real canoe!!    His 16'
glass Prospector definitely qualifies though!!  Very strange stablemates!!

DM&FS
-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Alcock <dgalcock@HEWITT.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Monday, June 12, 2000 6:21 AM
Subject: Re: [WESTY] Canoe on poptop - too much weight?

>The foam blocks work just fine. I put a lot of miles on a 77 Westy with a
>17 ft Coleman canoe on top over an 8 year period. I've now got an '84 Westy
and
>our new 16 ft fibreglas
>Prospector clone rode happily on its top for the first time this weekend. I
use
>two
>ratchet cargo straps (hooked to the rain gutters) over the top and a couple
more
>at the
>front and back. On my old westy I just used two ropes over the top and one
at
>the front.
>I've *never* had a problem with movement. However, I got to thinking that I
>could get
>a couple of straps with hooks (or just ropes) to go from the hooks in the
>luggage
>rack back to the first handy thwart/seat. This way I'd *know* that the
canoe
>couldn't possibly
>slide back (not that it ever has) and that even if two or three of the
tie-downs
>magically failed at once the canoe would still stay attached. Incidentally,
a
>great place to
>store your PFD's and paddles while in transit is in the canoe --- I stuff
the
>life  jackets
>in a dry bag along with the paddle blades and the the whole thing wedges
>(rattle-free and dry)
>under the rear seat of the canoe while driving.
>
>Cheers,
>Doug
>'84 Westy
>Toronto, Canada
>
>
>
>>I'd like to ask the Westy members of the group if any of them strap their
>>canoe(s) directly on the poptop.  We've currently got a 17' Mad River
>>Royalex canoe but the hull has a moderate rocker (curve).  Thus, we can't
>>directly put in on the roof with foam blocks.
>>
>>We're contemplating purchasing a new canoe with a straight hull - an Old
>>towne Discovery Sport 13'.  I'd like to toss it up on top using foam
blocks
>>instead of messing with the racks.  Is the 80 pound weight too much for
the
>>poptop?
>>
>>Thanks for any advice/comments.
>>
>>Todd Guttman
>>Columbus, Ohio
>>
>>85 Westy Rivendell