We don't normally do it that way down here either, Alistair. But, the
reason is because it is typically impractical (most people don't have the
standup racks to even carry a canoe on its side on a cartop), not because
it is in any way bad for the canoe.

I went on a photo shoot a few years back with a bunch of carbon fiber Bells
(any relation, Alistair?) and we put a kayak in the middle and a canoe on
its side on each side of that on top of some kind of a toyota SUV, and
a kayak and one sideways canoe on my westy, because they would not both fit
flat. Went all over the place. What I worried about most was the gunwale of
the canoe digging in to my poptop, so I used swim pads to help with that.
Those boats were fragile, being fiber, but very light.

As the Executive Director of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, I help haul
hundreds of boats a year around the state. The orientation of the boat has
never been a problem as long as its is securely and competently fastened.

Jim

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 9:27 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:

> number of times I have seen a canoe carried on its side, trailer or car
> top....
>
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> scroll down:
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> zero.
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> Honestly Jim. Things must be different down south, up here I never see it.
>
> Do a goole image search for "canoe trailer", how many images of canoes on
> their sides on trailer?
>
> alistair
>
>
>
>
>
> On 2012-08-20, at 6:36 AM, Jim Felder wrote:
>
> > 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:
> >
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> > 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
> > >
> >
> >
>
>