Thoughts on bushcrafting an outrigger?

Discussion in 'Bushcraft' started by AxesAreBetter, Jul 20, 2017.


  1. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    Been looking to add an outrigger to the front of my canoe to stabilize it better for fishing out of. Been told I could use foam or 2 liters for it. Thoughts?
     
    oldawg, Hanzo, Mindgrinder and 2 others like this.
  2. Ura-Ki

    Ura-Ki Grampa Monkey

    Totally, and a bonus is it's supposed to boost the load rating!
    Ever work with Foamular? it's the foam board ( Usually pink or blue) stuff you can get at home depot and other building supply stores. you can carve it and shape it to pretty complex shapes and then glass over it, and have a very strong and light part. I make all sorts of neat-o things with this stuff, from custom car interior parts, to boat parts, to car body parts and even serious model air planes that would blow your mind! Imagination is the only limits to the things you can do with this stuff!
     
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  3. UncleMorgan

    UncleMorgan I like peeling bananas and (occasionally) people.

    I've always been a lazy sort.

    Have you considered bolting on a used surfboard?

    It has the buoyancy, it's streamlined, and you could rig it to unbolt & lay flat on top of the canoe during transport.

    Plus you'd have yer choice of all the pretty colors.

    If you preferred, you could even split the surfboard lengthwise, glass in the raw edges and put half on each side: presto!--Instant Trimaran.

    Leave a gap for paddling, if necessary.

    It's always possible to do things on the cheap--but preferably without looking trashy.

    You could also make an outrigger out of foam noodles under a ply deck, Or just wrapped & glassed.

    Lotta stuff on the net.


    So many options, so little time...
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2017
  4. arleigh

    arleigh Goophy monkey

    Boogey boards are cheap and durable $25. new 10 or less at a thrift store.
    For light weight and buoyancy they are hard to beat.
     
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  5. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++

    My friend built a "canoe" from scratch. He used lumber and corrugated sheet metal. I believe he used lumber for both the ama (outrigger) and the 'iako (outrigger beam? not sure what the correct term would be.). Don't do it his way! Heavy as sin. Slower than molasses in December...

    But good enough to go out (with a crew of at least three) to lay crab traps!

    Good luck @AxesAreBetter.

    Just think it through first. Your craft will be wider. Not sure where you will be paddling. Will that be an issue? Your canoe will be less maneuverable with the outrigger. Will that matter.

    Ideally, you could set up with an outrigger that is easily deployable while on the water and fishing (and maybe surfing). And then easily removable and stored on your canoe when you are voyaging.

    If you are in the ocean, then no matter. Leave it fixed.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 20, 2017
  6. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    It's a 5 hour trip by car to the ocean from here. Never even seen a surf board. Just wanna go fishing in the river or on the lakes without dumping it every time we cast a line. Very tippy POS, but it's mine.
     
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  7. Bishop

    Bishop Monkey+++

    I have seen them made out of PVC and spray foam then capped off
     
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  8. arleigh

    arleigh Goophy monkey

    Leave the foam out of it ,
    I have seen all too often, foam fills with water, having been a leak, and do more harm than good, and it doesn't drain out,
    They use to build pontoon boats using foam inside and it just doesn't work out, and they don't do it any more .
    The Boogie board though it is foam filled are very well sealed,so long as the skin is intact are very durable and usually have points for lashing to.
    Wood is a better material for mounting it out away from the boat, PVC is usually too soft, especially when it warms up in the sun.
    Oak is excellent, and use spar varnish to cover it.
    I would use an lXl pattern and cargo netting .
     
  9. DKR

    DKR Raconteur of the first stripe

  10. Merkun

    Merkun furious dreamer

    A couple maybe useless observations:
    -The outriggers will not improve flotation or load carrying capacity unless they are actually in the water (or will be when load is added.) Retractable when under way needed under the casting scenario.
    -For best effect on stability for casting, the outriggers should be VERY close to the water when standing to make the cast.
    -Sponsons are a good idea for load carrying increase and extra flotation, as well as dock bumpers. That said, the ones in DKR's pic will not be so useful when casting unless a deliberate list is induced.
    -I am personally not offended by the idea of foam lumps on the end of PVC pipes. Yes, there will be flex, and for sure I'd attempt to encapsulate the styrofoam materials in some kind of shrink wrap. As a proof of concept, makes sense to me.
    -Small outriggers such as the plastic bottle scheme isn't all bad an idea. However, the center of the load in the boat has to be pretty carefully arranged such that the center is in line with the bottles or there will be a marked forward/aft "tilt" when loaded. This might not be at all critical for casting.
    -It might be worth looking into neoprene foam insulation for a flotation material. Some is closed cell and won't load up with water. Sorry, off hand I do not have a source to point to.
     
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