Published by the Open Canoe Sailing Group

The first is SteveR in his new canoe. It is a Solway Dory Avocet with a pair of outriggers of around 40lb buoyancy. You can see that outriggers allow a good sailor to sail even more aggressively without the worry of capsizing to windward if the wind suddenly dies.

He has toe straps fitted, and this allows him to really hike out, with confidence. The outriggers are set high and only come into play if the canoe heels more than about 20 degrees. This means that he can use the natural stability of his Avocet, with the outriggers adding to it, as it heels right over. This almost doubles the final stability of his canoe allowing him to sail in stronger, gustier winds. He can probably keep his canoe upright in a force 5 with his outriggers burying in a force 6 but he would be right on the edge.

The next one is MalcolmC with his new 14ft canoe. He designed and built it himself. It has a beam of only 30 inches, and he relies on his outriggers much more. The outriggers have about 40lb of buoyancy, whilst the main hull has about half of the stability that the Avocet has, but this still allows him to sail with full sail in winds up to about a force 4. However he admits that this is right on the edge, with his outriggers occasionally burying in the water. He only sits on the cockpit floor and leans as far as he can to windward, to aid stability.

Thirdly we see RoyB in his new outrigger canoe. This is 14.5ft long and has a waterline width of only about 18inches.The main hull has no natural stability at all, and relies totally on its outriggers. These have a buoyancy of around 200lb each which means that it is by far the most stable of the three canoes. Roy could probably sail with a full rig up in about a force 6, and be comfortably sitting on his comfy seat. however it also is probably sailing right on the edge. The most likely problem will not be capsize, but breakage. In these wind strengths a canoe that does not heel will probably break its mast.

Hoku 'ula - A Hawaiian Style Outrigger Sailing Canoe (PennyO)

Peter has liked the idea of a Hawaiian outrigger canoe since watching a documentary in 1978 on the 8 man, open water, paddle racing canoes. Our first outrigger canoe was made in Nottingham at the Midland Canoe Centre and was based on the East African boats that the boat builder had seen there during the war. The problem has always seemed to be how to combine paddling and sailing. We tried several makeshift rigs, using JohnB's converted drainpipe attached to a spare car roof rack, then buying one of BernardO's cast off outriggers to use with our Mad River Destiny open canoe. We had some really good sails with these craft but many more frustrating outings and we decided that we wanted a good boat that would be good for either sailing or paddling, whatever the weather dictates.

The internet showed plans of a canoe called Ulua, built by Gary Dierking in New Zealand. He worked as a boat builder in Hawaii for 25 years and he recreated the design out of Tommy Holmes' book on the Hawaiian canoe. I bought the plans for Peter's birthday a couple of years ago with the idea that it may be a project for retirement. However, an inscription on Lyme Cage in Lyme Park, Disley (near Peter's home) advises "Vive hodie, cras minus aptus eris" - "Live today, tomorrow you will be less able".

This view shows the outrigger. As Peter and Penny were still in shallows by the shore the rudder unit has not been dropped and can be seen behind the mizzen.

Skimming across Coniston Water, rudder now down.

So, with gentle encouragement from a couple of boat builders we know, the plans were passed to Solway Dory.

There followed detailed discussions on the exact specifications of the boat and a visit to the workshop once the hull had been made. The hull is 18' long and 18 - 20" wide. There is 2 metres between the hull and the outrigger. The cedar strip construction is coated with epoxy and the outside of the hull painted cream. She carries two red Bermudan rig sails, one 44' and one 14' and there are three mast positions to allow for various combinations.

Home | Table Of Contents | Contact