A weatherproof cable is perfect for securing your canoe to the roof rack. Whilst travelling, it is important to make sure that any canoe or kayak is secured to the roof rack properly. This is not just to stop it from falling but also to prevent an opportunist thief from simply whipping it off the roof whilst you enjoy a stop-off. For those of you who are also staying over at campsites, then the cable can also be used to secure the canoe once you reach your destination.

So why use a cable? Well, you will need to avoid the classic mistake of a bungee cord or good old blue rope as these are not secure against theft or at keeping the canoe fixed to your vehicle. Instead, you may look at straps but these do need to be the lockable type or they will simply be untied, and courtesy of the thief, your canoe heads off into the sunset without you. A popular method of securing a canoe is to use weatherproof cables. These allow you to use the cable to secure the canoe to the roof rack and have the ability to lock them into place.

Then once you reach a campsite or other stopover, then you can use the same cable lock to secure the canoe away from your vehicle. Simply rework the cable so that it secures the canoe to an immovable object such as a tree, just make sure they can’t simply lift it off whatever you have attached it to. A determined thief may simply cut through the deck plates or unbolt the seats but securing your canoe whilst on site will help to deter an opportunistic thief.

The Abus Cobra Flexible cable is encased with weatherproof plastic so this gives all-weather protection and will also help prevent damage to your canoe. The loops can either be secured individually, or one end looped through the other and then secured. Which option you choose will be dependent on the size of the canoe and the type of roof rack you are attaching it to.

You will need to thread it through parts of the canoe, such as the seats or deck plates, to prevent it from sliding out from under the cables. You can then secure the loops with a padlock such as the Abus 70IB series from our weatherproof section. This cable is ideal for prolonged use outdoors so will work equally well to secure the canoe once you reach the campsite too.

Alternatively, you could consider the Masterlock Python Cable. It is available with a maximum length of 1.8 metres but comes in 8mm or 10mm diameter woven steel. The plastic sheath prevents corrosion with the added bonus of protecting the canoe from damage. This cable does not require a padlock as the end is threaded through the locking unit and once adjusted to the correct length, you can lock it into position. Very handy if you prefer an all in one locking system.