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Thanks . Rolf is supported by the H2O Canoe Company in Ontario , Canada . https :// h2ocanoe . com info @ h2ocanoe . com https :// www . facebook . com / h2ocanoe / @ h2opaddlesport
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If the canoe has a grab loop , a single rope securing the bow needs to have a knot on the grab loop . If the deck has a grab handle where you fasten the rope , you need to have a knot on either side of the grab handle .
Passing the rope through either the grab loop or the grab handle on the deck will let the canoe slip sideways in a sudden gust of wind . One knot on a grab loop is fine , but a single knot on a grab handle on the deck can still let the canoe swing the full width of the grab handle , and that might loosen the main ropes or straps holding the canoe on the roof rack so it ’ s essential to have a knot on each side of the grab handle when using just one rope .
CARRYING MORE THAN ONE CANOE
To carry more than one canoe , having the right crossbar length is essential . Most jurisdictions have a legal requirement that nothing extend past the width of a vehicle measured from the tip of one side mirror to the other . Square Thule-style bars and round Yakima-style bars are available in different lengths . If your vehicle is
Thanks . Rolf is supported by the H2O Canoe Company in Ontario , Canada . https :// h2ocanoe . com info @ h2ocanoe . com https :// www . facebook . com / h2ocanoe / @ h2opaddlesport
equipped with modern roof racks that have a slot for attaching accessories and you have some basic DIY skills , it ’ s easy to make an extension to carry more than one canoe . I make the extension from pressure-treated 2X4 lumber . Using ordinary nuts and bolts , I fashion a tab on the bolt that drops down into the roof rack slot and make a recess in the wood so that the nut and bolt don ’ t protrude beyond that wood .
With more experience , you gain confidence and might encounter situations where your expertise comes in handy . In order to arrange a shuttle to the start of a canoe trip , I once put five 16-foot canoes on the roof of a VW Jetta to leave as many vehicles as possible at the end of the trip . On the roof racks , the first two went upside down , side by side ; the second pair went right side up on top of the first two , and the last one went upside down between the top pair . All of the canoes were tied down with a rope and travelled about 60 Km at highway speed to the start point of the trip without incident .
It is crucial to have boats secured firmly on top of a vehicle . The consequences of having one come off at highway speeds can result in some very tragic outcomes .
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