Transportation

(Roof racks, trailers, and dollies)

Roof Racks

The factory mounted "luggage racks" that come as standard equipment on many cars are not designed for car topping a boat.  You need a sturdy "straight bar" type of rack.  There are several types available.  Some clamp onto the existing luggage racks and others mount directly to the roof.  Stoppers (which prevent the boat from moving sideways) are a good idea.  It's best to contact a roof rack dealer to find the correct model for your vehicle.

To car top your FrontRower powered canoe or rowboat, you need to remove the FrontRower.  This is easily done by undoing two thumb screws.  It will fit in the back seat of most 4-door sedans (you need 52 inches of width) or in the back of most SUVs and station wagons.

The good points about car topping are that you don't need a trailer, a hitch or light hookups, and you don't need to learn to drive with a trailer.  The down side is that you need to unload your boat and get it up on the roof.  Then you need to put most of your gear in the car.

Trailers

We prefer trailers to roof racks for transporting our row boats, partly because it is easier to lift a boat onto the trailer than onto the roof.  But another good point about a trailer is you can store the boat with most of the gear inside, ready to go.  We keep our boats in a barn, but if you have a cover for your boat, you can store it outdoors on a trailer.  A lightweight aluminum trailer that we like is the Trailex model SUT-350-S.

The good points about a trailer are that it makes lifting easier and it makes it easier to keep everything together in one place.  The down side is that you need a trailer hitch and light hookups, you need to register the trailer, and you need to learn to drive with a trailer in tow.

Dollies

Dollies are designed to help you move your boat around by hand (instead of carrying it).  There is a lot of variety in dollies.  We prefer the balloon tire models.  These roll more easily in the sand and over rocks, but take up more space.  If you are going to take it in the boat with you, a kayak-type dolly with small wheels might be a better choice.