: Well I still haven't purchased a trailer and my boat is not yet done but I
: was thinking that if I HAD to cartop the Wineglass Wherry there would be
: some challenges. For once (I think) boats are usually carbopped gunwales
: down - at least that's what I usually see. The Wineglass Wherry is too
: wide for my roof racks on the Subaru Imprezza. If I strapped it bottom
: side to the racks it would fit fine. My questions is: Is there any
: particular (structural perhaps) reason that canoes and open boats are
: cartopped gunwales down?

I have always cartoped deck up simply because it is a more secure method of fastening the boat to the car. If the ropes were tied to the front and rear carrying straps the only thing that is securing the boat to the roof is the fasteners ( screws etc ) that hold the straps to the boat. By cartoping deck side up the ropes are pulling down on the ends of the decks ( as well as through the straps. I also use a safety strap ( nylon web ) around the centre of the boat. It's probably not necessary, but it did save the boat once when the exhaust pipe melted one of the rear ropes.
Jim