I purchased a Mad River canoe. The canoe is fantastic! But, transporting a 16 foot canoe can be a challenge. So, I built a custom canoe rack.
You can build this custom canoe rack with some inexpensive materials and basic tools.
Materials
- 2 2″x4″x10′ pressure treated stock
- 1 1″ 36″ stock iron pipe
- 2 1″ iron pipe end caps
- 4 2.5″ U-Bolts
- 2 1.75″ U-Bolts
- 10 3 1/4″ Eye Bolts
- 10 1/4″ Flat Washers
- 1 30″ 1.5″ PVC stock
- 50′ 3/8″ Braid Poly Rope
Tools
- Power Drill
- Drill bits
- Adjustable Wrench
- 2 Pipe Wrenches
Procedure
1. Drill holes into the pressure treated stock for the eye bolts such that they are equally distributed throughout the length of the pressure treated stock.
2. Secure the 3 1/4″ eye bolts to the pressure treated stock with the 1/4″ flat washers.
3. Place the pressure treated stock on your roof rack. Mark the placement of the 2.5″ U-blots such that they secure the stock to your roof rack. Remove the stock from your roof rack and drill the holes for the four 2.5″ U-bolts.
4. Loosely secure the 2.5″ U-bolts to the pressure treated stock.
5. Mark and drill the holes for the 1.75″ U-bolts on the rear ends of the pressure treated stock. (These will be used to secure the stock 36″ iron pipe.)
6. Loosely secure the 1.75″ U-bolts to the rear ends of the pressure treated stock.
7. Using two pipe wrenches, secure one of the iron end caps to the iron pipe. Insert the un-capped end of the iron pipe onto the PVC pipe. Secure the other iron end cap to the iron pipe using two pipe wrenches.
8. Secure the pressure treated stock to your your roof rack using the 2.5″ U-bolts.
9. Secure the iron pipe using the 1.75″ U-bolts.
10. Roll your canoe onto your custom canoe rack.
11. Secure your canoe to the rack using the 3/8″ rope.
This simple and inexpensive custom canoe rack has several advantages. First, taking the canoe on and off the rack with the “roller” is easy. Second, (depending on your vehicle) you may still have access to your rear cargo area because you do not need to tie the rear end of the canoe to your rear bumper. Thirdly, and most importantly, it holds the canoe securely.
