What is an Outrigger Canoe?

Outrigger canoes have an extensive history throughout the Hawaiian Islands, Indonesia as well as throughout New Zealand. This style of canoe has lateral floats on either side which can be fastened directly to the main hull of the boat. Smaller and thinner style canoes can often deploy these outriggers in order to have extensive stability as they take to open water. Some of the smaller canoes which are built for speed have just a single Outrigger which is located on the port side but larger style canoes which are longer often required to outriggers in a double hull or catamaran configuration. These types of canoes could support not only some extra weight but could achieve some added performance especially when they took to the open ocean. These are boats that are still continually used today throughout these islands. In many cases they can even be outfitted with specialty items like sails for faster operation or even lashed together to creating floating platforms for fishing and lounging. These Outrigger canoes are becoming much more popular in other parts of the world as well. A standard style canoe or kayak works particularly well for navigating rapids as well as going up and down rivers, but with the added stability of outriggers or stabilizers it’s possible to have a much more versatile boat. Removable outriggers and stabilizers have become a huge trend in the canoeing industry and these would not be possible without the original creation of the Outrigger Canoe. These glorious vessels have been modernized as well including holes that are now produced using glass reinforced plastic rather than wood. Modern fiberglass, plastic and carbon fiber/Kevlar enforced Outrigger canoes are some of the fastest wind and paddle powered boats in the open ocean today!