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Procedures for Tying Down a Canoe

Many lakes, rivers and reservoirs are accessible from the city by car, providing a natural backdrop for an adventurous vacation. If you have a canoe, you do not need a special trailer to transport it to these different destinations. You simply need a car, three canoe straps and a thorough understanding of how to correctly mount it to the vehicle. Tying down your canoe following the correct procedure avoids an accident that could damage your car, injure people or break your boat.

Choosing Straps
- Obtain three canoe straps to secure the canoe to the roof of the car, one for each end of the boat and a third strap to run across its middle. Proper canoe straps are essential for tying the canoe down. Using these along with the correct procedure means that you can be certain the canoe will not slip off the vehicle, because they stretch over the top of the canoe. Do not use ratchet straps, eyebolt straps or those with hook-ends. Choose a strap with a cam buckle with a one spring-activated lever.
Boat Position
- Before you can begin to strap your canoe down, it needs to be placed in the correct position on top of your car. First, check that your roof rack is securely attached to the vehicle. Hold various parts of the rack and wiggle them manually. They should not feel loose or move. Now, turn the boat upside down on the ground. Delegate one or two people to hold each end of the canoe, and then lift it onto the roof rack. Adjust it so that the bow and stern protrude from each end of the car, without tilting down. Balance the canoe by shifting it either forward or backward, until it is level on the roof.
Tying the Straps
- Attach one strap at a time to the canoe. First, place the length of the strap over the top of the canoe. Position it so that it is aligned with one of the roof rack load bars. Now, loop one end of the strap underneath the joint of the roof rack, and then pull both ends across the width of the boat. Twist the buckle around so the foam pad is between the clip and the canoe. Then, thread the end of the strap through the canoe strap buckle. Pull it down toward the ground so it tightens the strap. Repeat this procedure for the second strap on the other load bar. Secure the third strap around the middle of the boat.
Safety Checks
- The final part of the procedure for tying down your canoe is to check that the vehicle is safe to move without the canoe restricting your view or toppling. Stand back from the vehicle and check that the bow and stern are balanced evenly on each end of the car. Check that each strap is parallel to itself as it crosses the width of the canoe. In addition, look to make sure it is not twisted or crossed. Tie excess slack directly above the buckle. Finally, get into the car and drive it forward slowly. Test the brakes and check that the boat is secure.

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