Outriggers?

[CrkdLtr]

Any thoughts or suggestions for building a set of outrigers for the 14-29 Pirogue?

I need some training wheels until I get the feel for her.

[jem]

I probably need to draw up a simple set of outrigger ideas and post them online.

But if you wanted to do your own, you could just scale down the pirogue plans. Let me know if you need help with that.

[jem]

How far apart did you space the thwarts?

[CrkdLtr]

How far apart did you space the thwarts?

If you are referring to the outer battens they were spaced 42" from center per the instructions.




In thinking about your suggestions maybe I could build two boxes the shape of the pirogue about 3 feet long, about 6 or 7" wide in the middle (or beam if nautical term is necessary ) and 6" tall, fillet all the seams and glass it. Once that is cured I thought maybe I could drill a hole in it and spray the inside with the "Great Stuff" expanding foam to add buoyancy to it.

If that works out I would just need to find out how I could make it detachable from the pirogue for travel.

[CrkdLtr]

I think I found another option instead of building outriggers. I came across this PDF for a "Motor Canoe" that has designs for an "optional" stabilizing fins.

http://d.scribd.com/docs/124xeocsjkidiuhy41qm.pdf



These would be a little more permanent but would not look as bad as pvc pipes running everywhere to small pontoons on either side.

[dangermouse01]

Step 1: Put the boat in shallow water, wear a bathing suit, give your car keys, cell phone & camera to somebody on shore (so they can take the pictures ), be prepared to get wet (maybe even fall out), expect to get wet, sit in it, move around, lean side to side, rock the boat, see what the boat does when you do something, move like you would when you will be paddling. Paddle around a bit staying in shallow water. Then start looking for waves to see what they do to the boat. Tada....you are now pretty much used to the boat.

Will take you less time to get used to it than it would to build some sponsons or outriggers or what ever. If you added that last one to your boat and got used to it with those on, then took 'em off, it will be like an entirely different boat, and you would be saying that it is very un-stable, until you got used to it. Either way, you are going to have to get used to it without anything, might as well do it first.

If you really want some thing, a length of PVC pipe with a boat cushion duct taped to both ends, then strap, tie or duct tape the pipe to your boat (nothing permanent or fancy) then repeat step 1.

DM

[CrkdLtr]

Step 1: Put the boat in shallow water, wear a bathing suit, give your car keys, cell phone & camera to somebody on shore (so they can take the pictures ), be prepared to get wet (maybe even fall out), expect to get wet, sit in it, move around, lean side to side, rock the boat, see what the boat does when you do something, move like you would when you will be paddling. Paddle around a bit staying in shallow water. Then start looking for waves to see what they do to the boat. Tada....you are now pretty much used to the boat.

Will take you less time to get used to it than it would to build some sponsons or outriggers or what ever. If you added that last one to your boat and got used to it with those on, then took 'em off, it will be like an entirely different boat, and you would be saying that it is very un-stable, until you got used to it. Either way, you are going to have to get used to it without anything, might as well do it first.

If you really want some thing, a length of PVC pipe with a boat cushion duct taped to both ends, then strap, tie or duct tape the pipe to your boat (nothing permanent or fancy) then repeat step 1.

DM

I hear ya' chief. In that video you could see that when I went to reach behind me to grab my seat and seat cushion that boat rocked to one side real fast. I'm sure it's something I can get used to but I'm not looking to take a bath and in most cases I am going to be solo out in the marsh so I want to take all the precautions I can think of.

In any event I will definitely give it more time before I undergo any changes to it. I just intend to do some fishing, crabbing and crawfishing and am intimidated by what can happen.

[Oldsparkey]

It's like riding a bicycle.... Training wheels if needed and before you know it they are gone and you are just scooting along knowing how it handles.

Like DM said... Throw on a bathing suit and see what happens in the shallow water , ( Push the envelope to find out) after that you can concore the deep water without any aids. It's all in knowing what you can do and what the boat will do , extermination is the best way to find out or see how far you can push the envelope.

Chuck.