My DIY Outriggers

Made out of PVC and floats.

Nice! Now you just need to add a sail.

Nice! Now you just need to add a sail.

Don't know how to sail.  Just got the kayak 3 weeks ago.

FYI

PVC pipe sinks
ABS pipe floats

PVC pipe sinks

Not when attached to those floats...

Slightly off topic, but how do you like the hoodoo tempest? I just ordered 2 of them and am expecting them around Thanksgiving. They look like a great boat for the price but there really are not a whole bunch of reviews on them yet. I saw you had a post where you took it to HMB. How did it handle in the ocean? Is that why you built outriggers?

It might be kinda tippy, I'd guess . . .

It might be kinda tippy, I'd guess . . .

33” beam..tippy ?

Well, he did install outriggers. Why else would one use outriggers, increase drag 'cause it's too fast? 

Slightly off topic, but how do you like the hoodoo tempest? I just ordered 2 of them and am expecting them around Thanksgiving. They look like a great boat for the price but there really are not a whole bunch of reviews on them yet. I saw you had a post where you took it to HMB. How did it handle in the ocean? Is that why you built outriggers?

I have no idea what a good kayak is as this is my first kayak.  I bought it because the price is cheap compares to other brand and the weight is about right for me to handle.  As for stability, it's feels pretty stable in the harbor.  I did flip once unintentionally when my head was leaning off to the side.  I was trying to secure my paddle to the paddle holder and lean too much to my right and flip I go.  As far as kayak re-entry, it was effortless for me.  As for pedaling against the wind, it did pretty well.  I was circling the recreation paddlers there.  I also paddle with it, but it takes more effort to move it.  There were small chops when a power boat went by, but I don't feel the bobbing.  The reason for building the outriggers are for a piece of mind when I do venture out of the jaws, and for crabbing.  I'm not sure how stable it is with crab pots on one side.  Things I don't like are the front hand grip, the lockdown for the pedal drive, and the rear hatch that makes the surface uneven to put a crate.  I'll be at HMB this Saturday if you want to check it out.

Thanks for the info! I wont be able to get out there this weekend. Im glad to hear re entry is easy. That's always a plus. Good luck this weekend!

I can't tell if the floats are adjustable but they should be above the water line so not to increase drag.

I can't tell if the floats are adjustable but they should be above the water line so not to increase drag.

Yes, it's adjustable.  I'll adjust that on the water.  There's also a steel beam connecting both sides together.  Without the beam, I can see the hull flexes a little when I lift up on one side.  With the beam, it's solid.

I got to test it out today.  I adjust it so it's  about 1" above the waterline.  It's very stable.  There were a couple of power boats that created wakes and it handle just fine.  The downside is that I got extra weight to lug around.

  Did you use the kayak several times before you added the outriggers?  If you are way over average weight/height or don't have much experience with kayaks or other small boats, I can see how at first you might make some moves to cause it to tip you, but at 33" wide, it should be pretty stable without outriggers, and after some experience, you might find it hard to make it tip when you want it to, for example, to practice self-rescue.   I've never used a crab trap, so I can see you might want some stability insurance for that, especially in some of the nasty conditions during the winter season. 
   My kayak is 30" wide, but 15 ft long, I'm heavier and taller than average, and I'm always sort of surprised at how well it handles even big wakes thrown by power boats  - it slews around and buries the nose and stern a bit, but it handles them, and can even be fun. 
    I like the paint job on the outriggers that matches the kayak's!

  Did you use the kayak several times before you added the outriggers?  ...

Maybe he just wants a kayak* instead of a plain old boring kayak...