canoe outriggers

[finkm1]

Last christmas eve I put a posting on about canoe outrigger ideas. I had alot of great ideas. I went with the PVC pide idea and they work great. This is a great site for helpfull information.      

PLEASE post images no wider than 640 - you can edit them right in photobucket!

and, i assume these are for bowfishing stability, correct ... ?

  http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af241/finkm1/Mikes%20traditional/Outriggers003.jpg[/IMG]

[mike hall]

cool.....

[Ssamac]

That's a clever rig. Will those C clamps stay put?

[gudspelr]

Very cool-I almost didn't see your bow on there.  That dark green glass is getting me to thinking....  What are the specs on that bugger?


Jeremy

[finkm1]

I made it to look like the outriggers that cabelas sells, but using material that I had or could buy cheap. The cross piece is two, 2 by 4rs. The top piece is 6ft long and the bottom piece fits inside the sides of the canoe. The cross piece is c-clamped to the canoes wooden cross piece. It is tight when it is clamped. I used 4in pvc pipe,(6in would be better but the elbows and caps are $10-$15 dollars a piece!) I bought one 5ft piece of pvc at Lowes and cut it in half. Each outrigger is about 2 1/2 feet long. I filled the pvc with spray foam, just in the straight pieces, then added the elbows and caps. I might add an elbow to the backside. The posts are square tubing bought at Menards. I cut them to size and had a welder where I work weld them. Hose clamps hold the pvc tightly to the post. The progect cost me around $60.00. As I said the members on tradegang gave me alot of good ideas and some posted pictures of there outriggers that they bought or made.

[ArkyBob]

Looks great, I've thougt of doing something like that for my pirogue.  Why not just bolt the 2 x 4s to the cross piece using wing nuts instead of the c clamps.  That way you could remove them easily and they wouldn't stick up so high.  I've also thought of using boat bumpers for the floats.  Just fill them up with foam like you have done on the pvc.  Any thoughts on whether it would work or not.  I like the way you did the adjustment rod.  Thanks for sharing!!!

BOB

[finkm1]

I thought of bolting them. That will work too, but I had the 4in c-clamps and I wanted to get it on the water.The c-clamps can be turned upsidedown. Boat bumpers will also work, I was in Gander Mnt. this afternoon and looked at some. They were $35.00 a piece. Im field testing the outriggers now to see where improvments can be made. Even Fred Bear had to take trips to Alaska and other places to field test his new gear. L.O.L.  

[JSimon]

Wondering if you can re-post the pics of the outriggers. I do some bowfishing from a canoe as well.

[finkm1]

Im having a difficult time trying to get the pictures on from photobucket. If any one would like to see them send me a PM.  Mike

[finkm1]

I hope I have the pictures right, If not sorry Trade Gang People

 http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af241/finkm1/Outriggers002.jpg

 http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af241/finkm1/Outriggers003.jpg

[Bill Skinner]

Does it work?  Have you put it in the water and tried to shoot standing up?  Bill

[bretto]

And if You don't want to build the pontoons with PVC just use a couple of 5 gallon buckets with lids.

I know it's pretty backwoods-ish but it will work!!

[finkm1]

I had it out last week and it does work. I can stand up and shoot. I have not tried two people yet. It is very stable.

[aussieman8]

that looks good

[finkm1]

You can go back to my post on Dec 24,2009 when I asked for ideas and some tradegangers sent some very good ideas and pictures. Some said 5 gal pails are very stable but have alot of drag!