I am thinking about building my own stabilizers. My canoe is plenty stable while paddling but has less than ideal initial stability. Modified v hulls are designed that way to make them harder to capsize especially in motion or moving water like rapids. Not normally a problem on the still waters where I keep the canoe but Amy has recently purchased her license and will now be in the canoe with me from time to time. In addition to her inexperience I am suffering from some vertigo due to an inner ear problem. I could never pass a flight physical now. Even driving in the fog is tougher than it used to be.
Well I had been considering doing this to to canoe so I can use it for duck hunting and now these things are going on. I do not really want to spend a couple of hundred dollars on the retail models when I think I can easily build my own.
I figured on using crab/lobster pot floats, 6" diameter, 11" long attached to 1" diameter PVC pipe sealed for additional buoyancy, 1" adjustable PVC drop tube attached to a 2" PVC cross member. There would be a drop tube and float set on both sides of the canoe. I think the biggest problem I will have is figuring out how to make the connection between the cross tube and drop tubes adjustable for ride height.
I could use some help and ideas. Perhaps some of you have found a good way to do this or just have an idea how to do it. Please feel free to post. Being a former aircraft mechanic, specifically helicopters, taught me to always listen to and consider all ideas. Thanks folks. Any help greatly appreciated.
One of the kayak fishing sites had a setup like the one you’re describing. I think they used the ram-ball connectors for “hinges” on the outriggers. The ram-balls are designed for mounting things like a GPS or a fish-finder but seemed to work well for the outrigger setup.
I looked but couldn’t quickly find the article. It’s probably been linked to around here before but I don’t have it handy. If I find it, I’ll let you know.
In the mean time, if nobody else has something, a Google search might turn something up…it’s a very do-able solution especially for somebody with your skils.
Or, you could cheat and buy a pre-made set like Hobie offers (nowhere near as much fun as rigging your own I suspect).
there are some ready made outriggers at www.canoegear.com go to there online catalog and scroll down.They have them for canoes and for kayaks. They work well on my canoe and trust me when I say a 7yo boy can get you wet real fast but these allow me to stand and cast easily and stable jmho Dennis
I was all hot to trot over them myself and was just waiting to get them…glad I waited a bit…seen some in use…not for me…very noisy and not efficent for quick turning…they were not for me as I can balance standing in 3ft swells but for my customers so they also could stand and cast but the lack of manueverability is too steep for me…I did see a guy I know with the same ones on his kayak and he simply loves them and I do see him standing and casting now anytime he wants…I have watched the video from the company and they seem to work very well for sailing in a canoe…with all the wind around here that might be an option:D
I appreciate the replies. I was checking out PVC at Lowe’s tonight and I do not think I want to go that route. Just too flimsy for my liking. The more I keep kicking around how I wan to build this thing the more expensive it gets.
Mounting the ram ball, also called gimbals, on my canoe is out of the question as the gunwales are only about 2 inches wide. To do so would require the fabrication of an aluminum mount. In addition anything I put on the canoe has to be removable as I do not want to leave it at the mooring slip. There is no way to secure it there. I feel kind of stupid for failing to mention that at the beginning. Maneuverability is not an issue on the small still waters that I fish. Stability is given my worsening battle with inner ear/balance/vertigo and having people in the canoe that have little or no canoeing experience.
Teasels put my mind at ease about the quality of the manufactured ones. Do you have the Ethafoam or the HD ones? If I build these things the way I build stuff then I will be over the $100 dollar mark and that is just for the materials. So I am now leaning towards buying the set in the canoegear link.
One thing this does is add to the resale value of my canoe. So, when I am ready to buy a new boat in a year or two, I should get some returns there. Of course, knowing old soft hearted me, I will make someone a sweetheart of a deal on it.
jsmartt found the article I was looking for (thank you!)
bonefishwhisperer - I think the trick is to raise them up out of the water when you’re paddling around (instead of letting them add drag and mess with manueverability). Drop them into position when you get where you’re going and want to stand.
I agree…problem is you dont get that luxury when fishing shallow water bones or permit…I have found you must be able to go from spotting to actually presentation in 3 seconds…there really isnt time to even backcast but maybe once…for things like trout/snook/tarpon is where they will really shine…I still might get some for my ocean kayak and make it a warship:D
for the record…I am not slamming the product and even have agreed to link my website with the company…they answer any questions the same day and even have 24hr rush delivery…here is the link I am talking about
This is just an idea, and maybe it’s an awful idea, but have you considered gluing some of those foam cylinders that kids play with in the pool along the waterline of your canoe?
I was looking at them last night at BPS and they are about 4 inches in diameter. If you carefully cut about 1 or 1 1/2 inches off of them longitudinally and glued them just above the natural waterline of your loaded canoe you would essentially make your own sponsons.
Radisson/Meyers Sportspal canoes get rave reviews for the stability that their foam sponsons provide so maybe it would work?
I have the HD and love them the mount is removable and can still turn well in my canoe.I had my wife sister and self out Friday in a light chop and stiff breaze. She still handled well with only me at the paddle.They are definatly a wise investment.
I thought of everything to make the canoe better for people…finally solved the problem forever this week…I bought another canoe with a tunnel hull and 39inch width…totally stable…I can even stand up on a 1x12 across the back and pushpole from 2ft above the water without anybody in the front to weight it down…also now have adjustable height seat for client…what a difference the tunnel hull makes compared to the keel…same length but this one is stout and weighs only 85lbs and has a squared stern for outboard if wanted…I dont think you could flip it on purpose…I will use a platform instead…total cost $480…the stabilizers were around $400 after shipping
I just came back to this thread becouse I thought of the same thing. There used to be a canoe (SPORTPAL, I think) that did this. I just don’t want to be the first to try it. We’re talking about drilling holes, and adhesive here, messy if it dosn’t work. Glad I came back, don’t want to loose manuverability, or make it harder to get thru the weeds.
OK, if noone else has done it, I’ll try it in a couple weeks.
I have some of the same reservations. I do not doubt my abilities to design and build a great set of stabilizers however, being a former Crew Chief, helicopter mechanic and Co-Pilot/AeroScout, I have a tendency to err toward the safest and best designed solution. That would have cost me way more than anyone of these:
Since stability while in motion is not an issue for me and most of my fishing is done while anchored I bought the Ethafoam floats. I can always switch them for the hydrodynamic floats later on if I wish to. It only took about three days for me to receive my order, if I recall correctly.
I will be installing them tomorrow for the first time. I will update you all on how well they work and hope to get some pictures too.
Meanwhile, turn on your audio and enjoy their youtube demo here:
I have a sportspal 12’ canoe and I can stand up in it and flycast without tipping it, at least not yet. It rocks alittle if I get crazy with the casting. I don’t get to use it much.
I have had a few setbacks that have kept me off of the water lately folks. Sorry that I haven’t been able to get this done. I am hoping to do so this week sometime.
