C-Forum

Would it be advisable to transport canoes On their sides?
Just wondering if this would cause any damage structurally to the boats. Thanks!

laying on a flat surface or on a rack? Ive done both but the rack situation with two points of contact makes more sense.

You can stack them sideways, but don't reef down on the bow and stern lines to tight. I usually skip the stern line.

JKaz

I put 'em up on edge for short distances, so I can open the rear hatch, lay them down for highway to cut down on wind drag.

Thanks. I'm gonna get some Yakima stackers and tie them off!
I'm just waiting on some more rain.

I've stacked 8 of them on their sides two high on a Volkswagon squareback with a lot of rope and gotten 11 other paddlers and their gear in side same Squareback. We were all skinnier back then in college.

Gotten six canoes and 4 kayaks - on a Suburban with 4 78" wide racks - 2 thules, 2 yakimas. Last time I did that, first two canoes were flat upside down, next two were flat right side up, and last two were hull to hull on their sides on top with the kayaks on the sides and in the top holes. 4X4 Suburban made that a high wire act doing the tie down, and again all the paddlers were layered in the suburban with their gear. Prefer not to stack shallow "V" hulls. as they are usually mine.

I still think flat is best, and I now do up to four on my Pathfinder, and 4 flat on a 4 canoe trailer with gear box. Try not to haul canoes right side up if it is going to rain.

Trailer racks are padded with 1/2"+ of neoprene and zip tied with astroturf covering them. The padding cuts down on vibration on any type road, and I rarely ever have my ropes come loose.

Get the longer black zip ties - they are stronger and do not show.

And I also believe in bow and stern tiedowns on every boat.