I have seen every kind of boat there is carried in every possible way, with
no harm done to any one them PROVIDED the equipment you have allows you to
lash it down securely. You might get some drag from a canoe on its side,
but if you secure it fore and aft as well as in the rack, it won't hurt it.

The problem you will face is rain. If that thing gets a few inches of water
in it, and it can blow in a lot more than the actual rainfall depth, you
will find out why people carry them upside down.

Jim

On Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 11:59 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:

> depends on the canoe, an old Grumman aluminium canoe could perhaps take
>  being on its side, but never a cedar canvas or stripper. I'd even be
> loathe to do it to a plastic canoe :)
> You have to consider the forces applied by the lashing straps, and the
> dynamic things that go on when driving fast or over bumpy roads.
> Kayaks are a different kettle of fish, river kayaks are ok on the side.
>
> alistair
>
>
> On 2012-08-19, at 7:17 PM, Harry Hoffman wrote:
>
> > Hi All,
> >
> > So, I finally have managed to aquire some thule roof racks for the van.
> >
> > Does anyone know if you can carry a canoe on its side when travelling?
> >
> > I'd like to be able to carry a canoe and some other stuff but I have a
> > feeling if the canoe was flat I'd have no room for anything else.
> >
> > Anyone carrying one on its side?
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Harry
>