carrying a canoe on my beloved 09 Fit

[fiftypercent]

hello all,

first off -- I love my fit a month old now and it just absolutely rocks.

secondly, I'm looking to do some canoeing this summer. I've read around here that carrying a canoe on a fit isn't the brightest of ideas but I'm willing to risk it.

I just messed around outside and noticed the screwable-in bolt area on the front left and back right of the fit -- the manual says not to use this as a tie-down but looks pretty sturdy to me.

with the help of some trusty old towels to minimize scratching, etc. and a few cords to wrap around the canoe and through the window..... couldn't the tie-downs be used (if I come up with a fancy method of equalizing the tiedowns?)

I've found spotty info on roofracks for the fit -- seem rather costly (like any roofrack) and it would be sweet to haul my college backside off to the back40 on the cheap.

thoughts? insight? photos????

thanks!

[rosswond]

I would use roof bars, espacially on a brand new car. $300 or so for a roof rack vs $XXX of panel damage? No brainer as far as I am concerned. You can get foam ones that sit on your roof, but quite honestly, unless you can get it spotlessly clean (the rack too) you cannot avoid some scratching. And then when you go on your trip and it get's dirty on the way? You 've still got to get it all home.

Don't worry about size. I carried a canadian canoe on roof bars on my Mini 1100 down to Kangaroo Valley years ago. The only noticeable effect was a bit more body roll on the bends going down to the river. On the way home on the freeway, I found the car had better stability than normal and no loss of top speed despite the weight on the roof. I suspect the canoe acted like a fin and even smoothed out the aerodynamics.

On your Fit, you shouldbe OK as long as you are inside the weight limit (around 50 kg max I think).

Depending on your local laws, you might have to hang a red rag or mount a red light on the bit that overhangs.

I would avoid using the towhook for a tiedown though. It is designed to be loaded in tension, as in pulling your car out of a bog. It's not designed to be loaded in shear or bending and you could damage the hole or the surrounding fender this way.

[MsFit]

For some reason Thule does not recommend carrying a canoe on the 09 fit.
Kayak ok.

[hydrocynus]

I have opted for a permanent rack mount from Yakima.
The best deal I got is from The Luggage Warehouse - Travel Luggage, Business Luggage, Backpacks and more

You need
Yakima 0214 Control Towers for Factory installed Roof Tracks
Part#: y0214
Manufacturer Part#: y0214
(Qty: 1 x $127.20)

Yakima Landing Pad Base Plates for Control Towers
Landing Pad 7
Part#: ylp7
Manufacturer Part#: ylp
(Qty: 2 x $28.00)

Yakima 0408 48" Round bars for Car Roof Rack
Part#: y0408
Manufacturer Part#: y0408
(Qty: 1 x $56.00)


Total $239 shipped.



I picked up 4 SKS locks. I do not think that I will need the fairing since when the kayak is on the roof they are pretty useless.
I will remove the racks when not in use.



I prefer this option to non permanent bars since the can damage your doors seams. I did not opt for the permanent rails since the roof is not flat.

[superslurpee]

I too, was thinking of getting a canoe (hard plastic one) but wasn't sure if it was possible to put on the roof of an 09 Fit (Canadian Base). Where would you tie it down in the front and back? There's no hooks or anything. I don't have a roof rack. I would really like to be able to put a canoe on the roof but am not sure. fiftypercent, did you ever make a decision? I'm curious.