They are carried on their side on trailers all the time. Today's
question... what's the difference between a trailer rack and a cartop rack?

Scroll down:

Today's answer: nothing, so far as the canoe is concerned.

Furthermore, I would not get on the water in anything that couldn't hold
itself together on top of a car.

Jim

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 8:31 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:

> It will hurt some canoes for sure - cedar canvas, cedar strip.
>
> Aside from hurting the canoe, I bet having canoe on side puts more strain
> on the hold down straps as you drive down the hwy.
>
> Felder Technologies International owns a few "no win, no fee" law firms
> that do a good business in recovering damages from folk who's canoes come
> flying off their cars.
>
> :)
>
> alistair
>
>
> On 2012-08-20, at 4:53 AM, Jim Felder wrote:
>
> > 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
> >
>
>