I am a photographer and need a stable platform. My plan is to purchase a new kayak and add an outrigger to it. I don’t plan to sail it, just need more stability. Anyone have experience adding an outrigger to a glass or thermoform touring kayak. What boats are a better option? Are there quality outriggers I can purchase or do I need to build it myself?
Any help is appreciated.
I new this guy who added two pieces of metal that stuck out each side of the kayak about 2 feet with a foam float attached to each end. His balance was bad some kind of medical condition if I remember right. It seemed to work ok. it was attached in the stern (back) end of boat. On a Prijon 17 foot plastic kayak.I think he just drilled whole in the top of kayak and used some nut and bolts with BIG washers too attach it. I think he had wing nuts on outside so it was easy to remove for transport. . Wish I had a picture of it.
Hobie Adventure Island
There is a good looking pair of stabilizers on eBay for $160.
I wonder if you could add a Huki Gull Wing to it (https://www.huki.com/index.php?page=Gull_Wing). More keep you from flipping than stabilizing the boat, as the wings are normally out of the water. These used to be called Dragon Wings, so you may see some under that name.
Just a thought : Have you looked at the Hobies ?
They are very stable and you pedal them so you have both hands free
Easy Rider kayaks has optional outriggers that fit into channels molded into the kayak’s deck. I think their kayaks are designed more for general paddling, with fairly large cockpits and flattish bottoms. They’re in Seattle so might worth exploring.
With enough time in the seat, most kayaks are going to feel quit stable. Part of it is learning the boat and part of it is just instinctive balance. Just for fun, go out in the waves (not breakers) just relax and let the waves hit the beam. Any good boat will take care of itself. A really good boat will even take care of itself in steep good sized waves by just sliding sideways down the wave if you let it.
My point is that you should get used to the boat and see what it is capable of before you mess with outriggers. All of the said, I hope you have a waterproof camera.
I started using my sit-in kayak for photography using my older DSLR with an inexpensive lens. I figured I could cut my losses if it went into the drink. As I became more facile with the kayak, I’ve moved to using my newer equipment. I still don’t use my best lenses for fear of damaging them. It’s not because my kayak is unstable, but more because I just worry about water intruding into my camera/lens. I think I would be more comfortable with one of the newer, more stable pedaling kayaks and would think that the extra money spent on a pedal kayak is money well spent. The main source of water intrusion when I paddle to shoot photos is the paddle itself.
This is what I did:
http://paddlingandsailing.blogspot.com/2018/10/back-to-paddling.html
That is a 4 inch PVC drain pipe that is 10 feet long. It slows the boat down a little but it it no problem to keep up with most sea kayak groups. It is really stable. Hope this helps.
@FrankNC said:
This is what I did:http://paddlingandsailing.blogspot.com/2018/10/back-to-paddling.html
That’s a proa.
http://gentrycustomboats.com/splinter.html That might work. Going to be lighter and cheaper than anything plastic. Probably faster too.