Add tie down points?

[id10t]

Was given a nice canoe. Handy since I'm 10 minutes from the Santa Fe river.

But our Mazda CX9 doesn't have any tie down loops. Was able to get it to moms house in the same neighborhood with rope thru wndows but even at 20mph I could feel it trying to shift.

So either time for a trailer @ $800, a roof rack system @ $400 or some way of properly tying it down fore and aft.

Suggestions?

[island911]

Trailering a single canoe just seems wrong.

For the fore and aft tie-downs I would install some short straps, with D-rings, on the underside of the car. Perhaps use some self-stick Velcro to keep the D-rings forward and accessable.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by island911

Trailering a single canoe just seems wrong.

For the fore and aft tie-downs I would install some short straps, with D-rings, on the underside of the car. Perhaps use some self-stick Velcro to keep the D-rings forward and accessable.

But how would you install them?


And yes, trailering a single canoe does seem off, but it is a square back canoe (NOT a gheenoe!) and I do have an electric trolling motor. I've had it out in Mom's pond, it does really well... should be great on the rivers with a big ol' battery to go up stream and then paddle/coast/float back down to put in point...

[billybek]

Look on Craigslist for used racks and boat accessories.
Temp foam blocks for boats will work for the short term too.

[island911]

I'd find something relatively solid, on the underside, to attach the short straps. (but not the A-arms )

I would throw the canoe on the rack, feed the line thru, fore & aft; and, with the line taught, find the appropriate location to put the Velcro (to keep the D-ring end in the right place, against the bumpers, for future use)

[id10t]

Originally Posted by billybek

Look on Craigslist for used racks and boat accessories.
Temp foam blocks for boats will work for the short term too.

Trailers that won't do the job are $400 on my local c-list. And in winter, prices don't drop - here in N Florida we have year 'round boating and such.

When I put it on the roof of the mazda to get it to mom's I covered the gunnels with foam pipe insulators, so the roof is protected. I just need a way of securing that canoe... on every other vehicle I've put a canoe on the roof some rope at bow and stern could be used to actually attach it to tow hooks, etc. on the underside of the vehicle... but the mazda has nothing like that.

[dennis in se pa]

Cut swim noodles in half, put on roof. Run ratcheted tie downs through car and attached to canoe cross members before closing doors. This has worked for me.

[DanielDudley]

Kayak Hood/ Trunk Tie Downs By Calcutta

[LakeCleElum]

[sc_rufctr]

Your best option is a proper roof wrack. Anything else and you risk damaging your car.

My neighbor built himself a push trailer for his canoe but the water is about 5 minutes away by foot.

[rusnak]

I have no idea what a Mazda C-3PO car is because I'm more of a truck and trailer guy.

I would say that you should never tie anything "through the windows" because you can't open the door later. And driving 20 mph is a no-go. I'd use a trailer if you're going far with the canoe.

And that little car looks like it might have a bad water pump....