One man canoe loader

[Jerry_NJ]

My wife no longer is able to help me handle our 17' Grumman aluminum standard canoe. I am considering buying a "one man loader" that connects to the towing receiver and allow one to connect one end of the boat to its "T" top and then to walk (rotate) the front end around to the front of the vehicle, three to set it down on pads or a roof rack. One I find is the Reese Towpower 7018100 Canoe Loader, which I am considering buying - $100.

I'd appreciate any comment or recommendation on this or similar loaders

 

[NYBo]

Re: One man canoe loader

I have something similar that clamps to the transom that I used when I was car-topping my Coleman Crawdad. It was worth every penny, IMO.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Re: One man canoe loader

Thanks, I think you are talking about the trolley (wagon) with two wheels and a cradle shape to place a canoe/kayak boat on to move it across the ground, from the car to the water, say. I am also considering that as I want to return to using my 17' Grumman and it is bulky and heavy, not bad if there are two people not not easy for one. In this post I'm seeking input on the pole like contrivance (I provided one brand name) that connects to a trailer receiver and provides the rear support for a canoe. It also facilitates a one man operation. I understand one simply places one end of the canoe on the "T" section at the top, this "T" can rotate so next one simply lifts the other end and walks it around to the front of the vehicle. The trolley would make the trip to/from the water much easier too, and would facilitate moving the canoe and the contents all in one trip. I see one of those with good ratings for about $45.

 

[NYBo]

Re: One man canoe loader

Nope, it's a one-man boat loader that attaches to the trailer hitch like this one:

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: One man canoe loader

when loading a canoe on a roof rack I simply put one end up and push.... slide it on.... I can't see the "loader" being any easier unless you don't have a rack and don't wanna scratch up the roof

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Re: One man canoe loader

Yep, that's the type loader I'm considering.

I plan to use my Chevy Colorado pickup and it needs something to hold up the rear of the canoe, the loader I'm looking at seems to be a good choice, about $100, uses my existing sleeve hitch, and allows me to rotate, rather than slide the canoe to the front (cab) of the truck. I plan on using just the cushions under the gunwales at the cab end. As noted, I think I will combine the loader with a set of wheels to move the canoe from the truck to the water, some small lakes I will use the canoe on do not have a boat ramp to allow driving up, even into, the edge of the water.

Edit: NYBo, I read some review of the loader I am looking at that said it was a bit wobbly, but they still gave the loader a good - 4 out of 5 star rating. I think they added some tie downs in the rear. Your picture doesn't show any ties at the back other than at the top of the "T".

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: One man canoe loader

in that case it would probably be great... other option would be like a ladder rack type setup... would be more solid but likely quite a bit more expensive

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Re: One man canoe loader

Yes, the ladder rack is something I've looked at with interest in the past...indeed a bit more expensive and permanent.

My question now is do I still have the strength. I'm a big guy, old but big. Close to 6'6" and 240 pounds, but those 17' canoes are a big item to handle for one person. I'll drag the canoe off its rack and see how it feels. If I'm to use it as a single occupant I need to alse establish some sitting arrangement a bit forward of the rear seat - I don't want to kneel to paddle. I believe these long canoes handle poorly when running low in the rear, no one in the front. I think a single paddler has to be rear of center, but not all the way back to the rear.

I have a 10' kayak I purchased to handle just that problem, use by one person. It fits well enough in the bed of my pick up and is light enough to carry short distances, but the stability isn't what I need if used for fishing. I have also considered an outrigger for the kayak, maybe make one out of 4" plastic pipe.

The canoe was great when my wife was still able and interested in carrying one end (short distances) and handle one end putting the canoe on a sedan's roof. She was good too about paddling even if I was fishing on slow moving swamp streams/rivers. Times-gone-by.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: One man canoe loader

to solo try running the canoe backwards sitting in the front seat facing the rear... also a 5 gallon bucket filled with water in the other end makes a huge difference if you need a little ballast but is MUCH easier to carry empty than anything solid.

 

[NYBo]

Re: One man canoe loader

The beauty of these loaders is that you only have to lift half the weight of the vessel.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: One man canoe loader

the loaders are a good device.

They also make foam blocks that are cut so they fit on the gunwales and you can set the canoe on the roof without scratching.

Correct about solo canoing is done from the "front" seat facing backwards. You may have to have a thwart under your knees. I'd avoind ballast.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Re: One man canoe loader

Thanks, and the bucket idea sound good, just fill it and empty it at the water's edge.

My 15' outboard motor fishing boat got some damage by hurricane Sandy so my interest in the canoe has increased... I have also become interested in fishing some small lakes (under 100 acres) and ponds, 10 acres that don't require motor power to get from one end to the other. The two bodies of water I have in my sights get stocking of large trout (15" and larger) on just before Thanksgiving. I have caught several from shore in past years, this Thanksgiving nothing, and the 4 other shore fishermen I talked with had caught only one in a couple of hours work. There were no boats on the water and getting to the deep area near the dam would be 5 minute paddle with a canoe.

Yea, that's the appeal of the receiver post, load one end, the lift the other. I'd say lifting the open end is lifting almost the entire weight, at leas at the lower end of the lift, but the biggest problem I have had in the past with handling the canoe is the length. If I were more of a spender I'd get a 14' one man canoe, maybe a square stern to use one of my electric trolling motors.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: One man canoe loader

you can use an electric motor on ANY canoe pretty easily... just clamp a 2x4 across and put the motor on the beside the rear seat

 

[CC245]

Re: One man canoe loader

Just be aware that in some states when you add any type of motor to a canoe it then needs to be registered. Im not sure about NJ, but it should be easy enough to check.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Re: One man canoe loader

Thanks and yes, and yes.
I have used an electric motor on the canoe and I had built a motor board out of wood, not sure it had a 2x4 in the construction. In those days (30 years ago) my wife would always go with me, I made a sun-tan board to put in the front she could lay on and with the electric motor I didn't need help paddling... this was our lake arrangement. NJ does require registration for all power boats, no mater how small or light and they charge by the foot, so my registration for the canoe was higher than the registration on my 9.9 hp 15' Grumman V-bottom fishing boat. I used to put the canoe on a couple of lakes here that are in the 2,000 acre size, so a motor was welcome. But thanks for the "heads up" I learned the registration requirement the very first time I tried to operate the canoe with an electric motor, on one of the bigger lakes, and within minutes "ran into" the Ranger boat. I usually don't see that boat when I'm out. In any case they simply said I have to take the canoe off the lake, I can put it back on if I take the motor off. After I purchased the fishing boat we never took the canoe back on any lake.. still used it occasionally in flat-water rivers - one a swamp section moved so slowing one could paddle up stream, and that's what we did, usually up stream out, so we had down stream to go home.

On the solo operation, I think I'll try the backward approach, sitting in the front seat moving looking to the stern. If that works well, I suppose I can put a wooden bracket behind (old ahead of) that seat to mount an electric motor. I now have a 30 pound thrust and a 40 pound thrust... either one should make the canoe solo with just a few fishing items get up and go. I think I never had motor larger than 20 pound thrust on the canoe in the past. We had a little Terrier dog (not the one in my avatar) back then that just loved to go in the boat and in the canoe... in fact the dog lasted longer than my wife as my companion on local fishing trips.

I'm getting more interest by the minute. I'm thinking too of taking alone one of my HumminBird (sp?) Fish finders - sonar, and operating it off of my "jump" battery, a sealed unit designed to jump start a car. It has very little capacity, but if I am just running electronics it will last longer than I will.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: One man canoe loader

How much does your canoe weigh? Seems like it might be worth upgrading to a modern light weight canoe rather than getting loading gizmos for the truck.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Re: One man canoe loader

Well, buying new is always an (interesting) option.

The current old canoe has already "paid for itself" in use delivered, but still why spend the effort looking for a new home for it?

It is a Grumman Standard 17' - the old workhorse that is still seen in rental shops. I think if one doesn't bend it up on the rocks it will out last most owners. I'll guess it weighs 75-80 pounds, empty.

As I mentioned, I am still evaluating what to do with my damaged (hurricane Sandy and White Pine trees) to my outboard fishing boat. If I decide not to put that back into service it may be because I see a new shorter canoe with a square stern can fill my needs. I am a solo operator and don't need a lot of room - still comfort and stability are important, and while I've never had rolled a canoe, I never stand up one either.

 

[buellwinkle]

Re: One man canoe loader

I need a different kind of canoe loader. I need one that puts me in the canoe from the dock, like a crane that gently lowers me into it in a seated position as I'm totally afraid to step into a kayak or canoe from the dock.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: One man canoe loader

Jerry

I wonder if you could just use the boat trailer & the ramp at the lake. I fished there many times.

Can your wife or a friend simply back the trailer into the water with you already in it.

Can you unload & load the boat onto the trailer at the ramp ? It will save you from muscle pulls & dropping the boat.

I am 75 & the same size & condition. I would definately use the trailer. That place gets high winds unexpectedly. Trailer it.

Good luck.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: One man canoe loader

Jerry

I wonder if you could just use the boat trailer & the ramp at the lake. I fished there many times.

Can your wife or a friend simply back the trailer into the water with you already in it.

Can you unload & load the boat onto the trailer at the ramp ? It will save you from muscle pulls & dropping the boat.

I am 75 & the same size & condition. I would definately use the trailer. That place gets high winds unexpectedly. Trailer it.

Good luck.

I actually had thought and even typed the same thing until I remembered this:

As noted, I think I will combine the loader with a set of wheels to move the canoe from the truck to the water, some small lakes I will use the canoe on do not have a boat ramp to allow driving up, even into, the edge of the water.

still, even if no ramp it is gonna be a LOT easier to unload from a trailer to your dolly than the roof if you are willing to trailer it.