Making an Outrigger for your Canoe

For the past two summers we have been experimenting with a bamboo and styprohpone outrigger on our canoe. The purpose of this design is to allow us to sail, be more stable: thus more relaxing, and allow us to go in the ocean. We have used the canoe to sail in our local harbor with lots of success but have not had the time to take it further.

The outrigger performed exceptionally well in both Salem Harbor and Lake Winnipesaukee. The same design of bamboo boards was able to handle all the pressure of 4 people in a canoe without any signs of breaking. It also was very convenient when swimming, when tiered you could rest by hanging onto the bamboo. In Fact the structure was so strong that you could actually lay on it while the boat was in the water. If we used a few more sticks it would be very easy to make a platform on which you could stand.

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  First construction.

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  Bamboo is very strong, only a few sticks are need for support.

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  First time in the water!

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  We sailed down across Salem harbor to stop over for some coffee at Jaho.

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  The first trials were very successful, even the harbor master commented on the quick speed of the boat.

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  Next summer we remade the same boat, this time we used a longer canoe and changed the sail up a bit for more flexiblity.

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  Construction of the Outrig: Takes about 1 hour.

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  The sail was proped up with rocks.

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  The sail itself looked as if it would fall appart at any moment. This was the same one we used the previous summer during ocean trials.

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  The outrig made the boat very stable and pefect for a relaxing lake trip.

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  The canoe was sailing very quickly.

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  Cruising at top speed.

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  The outrig proved useful for drying clothes.