How do you transport your canoe

[Ratherbefishing75]

Hi everyone I was just wondering if I’m the only one that has a trailer for a canoe .

 Last year for Father’s Day my famly got ma a new canoe as my oils john boat was in need of  some serious help as it was being held together by duct tape and silicone but it was light enough for me to lift up on my truck  but the mes ride is slightly heavier and being over 40 it’s not as easy to lift this  up on my truck. So I managed to get a cheep small boat trailer for it and I do get some lols when I’m backing it down the boat ramp with a gmc 2500 HD with that being sed I’m shure I’m not the only one that has done this  lol 

[RPreeb]

For shorter trips around home I just strap in into the back of my F-150 with the tailgate down and a red flag tied on because it overhangs by about 5 feet.  Longer trips when towing the camper, it goes on top using my Thule roof racks.  It's a bit of a hassle to get it up there by myself (and I'm 71 years old), but I can do it.  I just ordered this Thule 854 Water Slide Kayak Carrier Accessory Mat  to make it easier to just slide it up on the racks from the back. 

 

In any event, no trailer.  I've been loading a canoe since the late 70's, and for several years back in the 80's carrying from one to six whitewater kayaks on top of various vehicles that I owned.  I've always found a way to get them to the water, and never yet used a trailer.

[Ratherbefishing75]

I guess I’m just lazy lol  the trailer does help a lot makes it easier and quicker to get in to the water especially when you have batteries a motor and all of your fishing equipment 

[A-Jay]

I am a Huge Trailer fan ~ 

 

A-Jay

[Ratherbefishing75]

That’s a nice rig you got there I’m still trying to get my pics uploaded to show mine off

[NYWayfarer]

I would love to eventually get a trailer.

 

I only have a short trip to the river I fish, less than half a mile. I use a foam block canoe car top carrier kit. It works but I had to upgrade the straps. I didn't trust the ones that came with it.

[Ratherbefishing75]

There we go 

[PAbasser927]

I have a Native Ultimate 14.5, so a canoe/kayak hybrid.  My brother is a welder so I had him make up a rack I can plug into my trailer hitch that I had been using for a bike rack.  I use a Malone versarail crossbar on the car.  Keeps me from needing permanent crossbars on the car and gives me a wider base to tie down to.  Another positive is that the sedan’s roof is low so it is very easy to get it on and off the car top.  I put one side of the kayak on the hitch rack and slide it up from behind to the crossbar on the car.

[Ratherbefishing75]

 Necessity  The mother of all Inventions. This is how I used to tote my boat around 

[Further North]

I hate lifting our canoe up on top of our SUV...trailer here...a Farm and Barn special with a rack at about waist height, room on the deck for other "stuff".

 

...and old cooler attached to the deck makes a great storage box without a lot of fabrication work.

[Goose52]

I fish solo so I can do what I need to with a light (34lb base weight before mods) and short (11'6") canoe.  Being so light, I don't have a problem with cartopping it using foam blocks.  The advantage of having a smaller vehicle and using the foam blocks is that I can pull into my garage with the boat on the roof of the car. No unpacking to do or unhitching/storing a trailer.  All I have to do is recharge my TM battery, replenish tackle if needed, and that rig is ready to go the next morning. I think my record is going out 5 days straight so not having to unpack and repack each day saves a lot of time.

 

 

Then, I don't have to worry about where to store the trailer - the boat stores in what my wife calls my "canoe hutch" on a sidewall of the garage and I can still fit the wagon in that bay.

 

 

I guess it depends on how much room you have, the size/weight of the boat, how often you go out, and other factors.  I did almost buy the trailer that A-Jay uses - it's a nice, light unit that is really slick. But at the end of the day when I thought through my own needs/wants, I just ended up cartopping.

 

 

[A-Jay]

5 hours ago, Goose52 said:

I fish solo so I can do what I need to with a light (34lb base weight before mods) and short (11'6") canoe.  Being so light, I don't have a problem with cartopping it using foam blocks.  The advantage of having a smaller vehicle and using the foam blocks is that I can pull into my garage with the boat on the roof of the car. No unpacking to do or unhitching/storing a trailer.  All I have to do is recharge my TM battery, replenish tackle if needed, and that rig is ready to go the next morning. I think my record is going out 5 days straight so not having to unpack and repack each day saves a lot of time.

 

 

Then, I don't have to worry about where to store the trailer - the boat stores in what my wife calls my "canoe hutch" on a sidewall of the garage and I can still fit the wagon in that bay.

 

 

I guess it depends on how much room you have, the size/weight of the boat, how often you go out, and other factors.  I did almost buy the trailer that A-Jay uses - it's a nice, light unit that is really slick. But at the end of the day when I thought through my own needs/wants, I just ended up cartopping.

 

 

My rig weighs north of 120 lbs without the foam/carpet floor & other mods.

Regardless of what kind of shape I might 'think' I'm in - I'm not ever hoisting that deal up onto anything other than this trailer . . . . .

A-Jay

[TigerMack]

On 5/2/2018 at 8:48 AM, Goose52 said:

I fish solo so I can do what I need to with a light (34lb base weight before mods) and short (11'6") canoe.  Being so light, I don't have a problem with cartopping it using foam blocks.  The advantage of having a smaller vehicle and using the foam blocks is that I can pull into my garage with the boat on the roof of the car. No unpacking to do or unhitching/storing a trailer.  All I have to do is recharge my TM battery, replenish tackle if needed, and that rig is ready to go the next morning. I think my record is going out 5 days straight so not having to unpack and repack each day saves a lot of time.

 

 

Then, I don't have to worry about where to store the trailer - the boat stores in what my wife calls my "canoe hutch" on a sidewall of the garage and I can still fit the wagon in that bay.

 

 

I guess it depends on how much room you have, the size/weight of the boat, how often you go out, and other factors.  I did almost buy the trailer that A-Jay uses - it's a nice, light unit that is really slick. But at the end of the day when I thought through my own needs/wants, I just ended up cartopping.

 

 

Fist bump to another guy hauling his canoe on top of a Ford Focus wagon!

 

I have a 14.5' Old Town that I haul on top of my Focus with a Malone roof rack with the canoe kit. i had to switch up how the canoe kit is attached just a little bit, but that thing is rock solid. I can get the canoe up and down by myself with no problems, but now that my oldest son, who usually goes with me, is 13 and putting on a little muscle and height, it's all the easier. 

 

I cant pull mine into the garage with the canoe on top, though. I'm jealous of that!

[volzfan59]

I used to haul my canoe on a trailer. I dislocated my shoulder years ago, my wife tore her rotator cuff in her past. Every time we flipped the canoe on our Jeep, one of us ended up hurting. We now haul or kayaks on a trailer. Makes life so much easier.

[Mobasser]

I have a trailer for mine too. My canoe is a 17ft Osagian,  made here in Missouri.  Its the best way to haul it around