What Is an Outrigger Used for?

Outrigger floats help stabilize small watercraft, such as canoes and kayaks, in heavy seas and high winds. The ancient Polynesians used outriggers in their journeys among the far-flung islands of the vast Pacific Ocean. Modern canoers and kayakers favor outriggers for use in open ocean, where rolling swells could easily overturn their small and narrow vessels. Outrigger races have become an annual event in Hawaii, where the craft of canoe-building has a long and honored tradition.

  1. The Outrigger Idea

    • An outrigger is any part of a boat's rigging that is placed in a fixed position outside of the main hull. The most common outrigger is a hollow float that serves to stabilize small, narrow watercraft such as canoes and kayaks. Similar in shape to a pontoon, these outrigger floats form a narrow second hull, made of wood or fiberglass, that extends parallel to the side of the craft. Two narrow spars, traditionally lashed with rope to the float, fix it to the hull of the boat. Outrigger floats are usually on the port (left) side of the vessel.

    Uses

    • Using an outrigger float prevents the craft from rolling or capsizing in high winds or heavy waves. It allows rowers and passengers to stand in the boat, if necessary, for better sighting, or for fishing or diving. Outriggers also allow people to climb into and out of the craft without fear of overturning it.

    Oarlock Outriggers

    • In the Mediterranean region small outriggers also have been used to improve the speed of rowed vessels since antiquity. These devices were extensions of iron oarlocks, which were fastened to the hulls and guided the oars to their position in the water. The outrigger gave the rower greater leverage and created a stronger pull on the oar.

    A Polynesian Tradition

    • Outrigger canoes are most familiar in Polynesia, the family of island groups, including the Hawaiian Islands, that are scattered across the Pacific Ocean. Before the region's recorded history, Polynesian boatbuilders created outrigger canoes that helped them to sail large watercraft over great distances. It was essential for their craft to remain as stable as possible through many miles of rough seas.
      Outriggers provided a safer means of moving people and trade goods among the far-flung islands of the Pacific. They provided a stable platform from which to catch fish, or dive into the sea to harvest fish, edible plants, pearls or coral. Outrigger canoe races remain one of the most popular competitive sports in Hawaii and other Pacific island regions.

    Modern Designs

    • Rowing modern outrigger canoes is a popular recreational sport in Hawaii and California. Designers commonly make outrigger floats from hollow fiberglass tubes. They build the floats in a variety of shapes and sizes, some of them quite startling in appearance. Canoe designers still aspire to create the float size and shape that gives optimum stability without adding too much weight to the vessel. On some models, the floats have ballast tanks that can be weighted further by filling them with water. The additional weight increases the stability and makes the craft all but impossible to overturn.