Cartop Canoe?

[perrymk]

What are people doing to cartop a canoe?

I had a nice setup to cartop a canoe on my old Chevy Metro but the same approach won't adapt direct to the Sonic.

The center strap looks easy enough, just open the back doors and wrap around the roof with canoe. The rear is easy enough as I have a receiver installed for a bike rack so can tie off there.

The front looks like it will take some doing. There is a fair amount of plastic so simply installing an eyebolt isn't that straightforward. Mainly the part where one needs something solid to secure it to.
Behind the grill it looks like there is a solid cross bar with some holes ready to accept a bolt. I could weld a nut to a bar, then bolt the nut-bar to the cross bar, then screw in a large-ish eyebolt through the holes in the grill to the nut-bar. This seems do-able.

But before I go through all this trouble re-inventing the wheel, I thought it might be useful to see what others are doing.

Thanks for any suggestions.

EDIT: If it matters, I have a 12 foot, 26 pound kevlar solo canoe at the moment but may wish to get a 14-15 foot two person in the future.

 

[River_Rat]

I'm using a hitch mounted EZ canoe loader in this picture. It sure helps getting a canoe up there by myself without damaging anything, and adds a great deal support, but it is not necessary.

I use Thule hood loop straps for the front tie down. I removed a bolt from the fender on either side and replaced them with the next size longer and mounted them there. I just tuck them out of the way when not in use.

I also use a rhino rack with two straps across the hull and a tie down to my hitch in the rear. I feel very confident with this setup.

FYI, the green canoe is about 14 ft and 60lbs and the yellow is 16 ft and about 50lbs.

 

[perrymk]

I was unaware of this option, but it looks awesome! Thanks!

And its inexpensive, not that I would cheap out when trying to carry an expensive canoe safely, but low cost is always good.

I saw one of the hitch carriers online and if I get a larger canoe I may opt to purchase one as it really does look like it would make loading/unloading much easier, but my small canoe is easy enough to handle.