Funny how old threads pop up. Since 2016, I had to replace my Thule bars. The bars rusted because the plastic coating wore off the bars due to sliding canoes onto the rack from behind the vehicle. The culprit was the hardware Old Town used to attach seats and thwarts to vinyl gunwales. Each time I slid the canoe on the bolts took off a little chunk of plastic, then water got in and the bars rusted.
Now, I put a carpet-covered 2x4 on top of the bar in the back, the one the canoes slide over. It was to protect the bar, but also prevents wear on the aluminum gunwales of my Rendezvous. To my surprise, the carpeted bar holds the boats more firmly than the naked Thule bar, so a double benefit.![D0925F54-EFE1-4831-BD6D-6CD04925ED7F.jpeg D0925F54-EFE1-4831-BD6D-6CD04925ED7F.jpeg](https://www.canoetripping.net/data/attachments/23/23509-9bee01ebd571411dbfa235fd76d4a146.jpg?hash=m-4B69VxQR)
Now, I put a carpet-covered 2x4 on top of the bar in the back, the one the canoes slide over. It was to protect the bar, but also prevents wear on the aluminum gunwales of my Rendezvous. To my surprise, the carpeted bar holds the boats more firmly than the naked Thule bar, so a double benefit.
![D0925F54-EFE1-4831-BD6D-6CD04925ED7F.jpeg D0925F54-EFE1-4831-BD6D-6CD04925ED7F.jpeg](https://www.canoetripping.net/data/attachments/23/23509-9bee01ebd571411dbfa235fd76d4a146.jpg?hash=m-4B69VxQR)
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