Anyone ever fashioned your own kayak or canoe outrigger?

I plan to invite some friends to BBQ and boating this July 4th. I have a plastic Rogue River 14 canoe for guests to use. There will likely be people who are not familiar with boating, probably some are kids too.  To be safe, I am thinking about fitting my canoe with some type of outrigger. A search online for this product reveals that they are from $150 to $400 per package. Problem is they either require drilling into the edge of the hull, which I am not willing to do, or are too elaborate and expensive. I think I may be able to fashion my own outrigger that will not damage the canoe, and in the process save a few bucks too.

I think mainly I need:

1. C clamp about 1 3/4" wide and deep, that clamps on to the edge of the canoe. 
2. Connected to the back of the clamp there needs to be a ring or another clamp that can secure a plastic or aluminum tube maybe 1" in diameter.
3. The two ends of the aluminum tube extend out; I will bend them down to water surface then attach some flotation.  If I want to be cheap, pool noodles can do.

This setup may take just $30-50. And plastic tubes I already have at home.

A quick search shows all C clamps with a screw hole on the back have rather small openings, or not deep enough. The bigger C claps don't have screw holes.  I am still searching.

I want to check if anyone has done this before and have worked out a better solution or design?

Do an internet search for "Canoe outrigger inflatable."  You'll find some pretty good looking outfits for under $50.

I’d use PVC pipe and make the amas out of crab pot buoys.

On the other hand, if you want to borrow 1 or 2 Hobie AI amas, I’ve got 4, and never use more than 2 at a time. It would be very easy to rig PVC pipe to hold them in place—Sailfish/Sonny has done this PVC aka thing with AI amas on one of his kayaks, so he could give you the details.

Have you considered that trying to make a canoe safer may be a bad idea?  Shouldn't the friends be shown how to keep the boat upright?

Sorry, but this sounds like the guy who wants to break his kids into kayak fishing on a short yak along the toughest part of the San Mateo coast...

I say that you should focus on a better place to start for beginners instead of focusing on a way to advance the participants too rapidly.  Keeping a canoe upright can't be too hard, and going to Half Moon Bay to start is way more reasonable than going to Pigeon or the Bean.

I plan to invite some friends to BBQ and boating this July 4th. I have a plastic Rogue River 14 canoe for guests to use. There will likely be people who are not familiar with boating, probably some are kids too.  To be safe, I am thinking about fitting my canoe with some type of outrigger. A search online for this product reveals that they are from $150 to $400 per package. Problem is they either require drilling into the edge of the hull, which I am not willing to do, or are too elaborate and expensive. I think I may be able to fashion my own outrigger that will not damage the canoe, and in the process save a few bucks too.

I think mainly I need:

1. C clamp about 1 3/4" wide and deep, that clamps on to the edge of the canoe. 
2. Connected to the back of the clamp there needs to be a ring or another clamp that can secure a plastic or aluminum tube maybe 1" in diameter.
3. The two ends of the aluminum tube extend out; I will bend them down to water surface then attach some flotation.  If I want to be cheap, pool noodles can do.

This setup may take just $30-50. And plastic tubes I already have at home.

A quick search shows all C clamps with a screw hole on the back have rather small openings, or not deep enough. The bigger C claps don't have screw holes.  I am still searching.

I want to check if anyone has done this before and have worked out a better solution or design?

Is this setup you have in mind?

I plan to invite some friends to BBQ and boating this July 4th. I have a plastic Rogue River 14 canoe for guests to use. There will likely be people who are not familiar with boating, probably some are kids too.  To be safe, I am thinking about fitting my canoe with some type of outrigger. A search online for this product reveals that they are from $150 to $400 per package. Problem is they either require drilling into the edge of the hull, which I am not willing to do, or are too elaborate and expensive. I think I may be able to fashion my own outrigger that will not damage the canoe, and in the process save a few bucks too.

I think mainly I need:

1. C clamp about 1 3/4" wide and deep, that clamps on to the edge of the canoe. 
2. Connected to the back of the clamp there needs to be a ring or another clamp that can secure a plastic or aluminum tube maybe 1" in diameter.
3. The two ends of the aluminum tube extend out; I will bend them down to water surface then attach some flotation.  If I want to be cheap, pool noodles can do.

This setup may take just $30-50. And plastic tubes I already have at home.

A quick search shows all C clamps with a screw hole on the back have rather small openings, or not deep enough. The bigger C claps don't have screw holes.  I am still searching.

I want to check if anyone has done this before and have worked out a better solution or design?

Is this setup you have in mind?

Haha this gentleman has the same idea.  His outriggers are nicely done; a lot of good ideas, especially on the flotation.  I only feel his attachment method is a bit too elaborate; he basically built his own C clamp.  The biggest change I will make is I want to make the two outriggers into one piece, like a bicycle handle bar.  I think this will be much stronger and more rigid.  His design has the advantage of being about to raise and lower the flotation; but I would trade that for strength and simplicity.  Thanks for the video -- a lot of good ideas to take away.

Have you considered that trying to make a canoe safer may be a bad idea?  Shouldn't the friends be shown how to keep the boat upright?

Sorry, but this sounds like the guy who wants to break his kids into kayak fishing on a short yak along the toughest part of the San Mateo coast...

I say that you should focus on a better place to start for beginners instead of focusing on a way to advance the participants too rapidly.  Keeping a canoe upright can't be too hard, and going to Half Moon Bay to start is way more reasonable than going to Pigeon or the Bean.

I did this type of party one time before.  There will be about 20-25 people.  There are all kinds of things going on and needing attention; BBQ grilling, guests coming and going, lemonade is low, we need more fruits, where is your bathroom, etc etc.  I will not be able to tend to everyone who wants to get on the water.  Some guests will be on their own; some guests want to be on their own.  As a guide I think you are familiar with this scenario. 

I quite often see first time boaters try to WALK onto a canoe.  It can be quite scary -- not to the person, but to me.  Also, when 2 or even 3 people are on one boat, it takes careful coordination which I don't think first time boaters have.  Hence my thought to rig my canoe...

Or don’t bring it and eliminate the stress.  Sounds like fun though.  If you invited a mess of NCKAers not sure they’d be any safer,  even on land…   just kidding…hope it works out either way.  Happy 4th to ya’ and welcome to the community…

There is a hobie sidekick knock off on Amazon, might be something to look at.

If you invited a mess of NCKAers not sure they’d be any safer,  even especially on land…

I've thought of building some sort of outrigger, to help make more storage and maybe make my kayak more stand-able.  I'm curious how much it will impact maneuverability and speed.  My little 10.5' kayak isn't very fast, but it is pretty nimble.

I've thought of building some sort of outrigger, to help make more storage and maybe make my kayak more stand-able.  I'm curious how much it will impact maneuverability and speed.  My little 10.5' kayak isn't very fast, but it is pretty nimble.

In my preliminary design, the side cars will not touch the water when the canoe is upright; maybe hang just 6" above water.  It is only when the canoe tilts beyond a certain angle that they touch and enter the water and counter the tilt, because only then you need support.

Walmart sells mega noodles that are 4.25" in diameter; Amazon has some that are 5" but considerably more expensive.  Even just the Walmart noodle, one piece at 4' will provide 98 lbs of support.  That is pretty good support; should prevent a lot of accidents. 

I've thought of building some sort of outrigger, to help make more storage and maybe make my kayak more stand-able.  I'm curious how much it will impact maneuverability and speed.  My little 10.5' kayak isn't very fast, but it is pretty nimble.

In my preliminary design, the side cars will not touch the water when the canoe is upright; maybe hang just 6" above water.  It is only when the canoe tilts beyond a certain angle that they touch and enter the water and counter the tilt, because only then you need support.

Walmart sells mega noodles that are 4.25" in diameter; Amazon has some that are 5" but considerably more expensive.  Even just the Walmart noodle, one piece at 4' will provide 98 lbs of support.  That is pretty good support; should prevent a lot of accidents.

That sounds like a good plan, and lightweight too.

I wonder if something like that will work for my AI. I've always felt that the AI amas are ridiculously heavy, and they introduce a significant amount of drag, as they're always touching the water. If anybody knows where I can find a 10' long and 10" diameter pool noodle, let me know!