Double Canoes and Outriggers

Home Forum Design Specific Boards Ethnic and Islander Designs Double Canoes and Outriggers

These forums are now closed

The forums are closed to new contributions. For informational purposes, all posts will remain available to read here.

1 post / 0 new
Anonymous (not verified)
Double Canoes and Outriggers
Whenever we see pictures of traditional canoes in use as working boats they are almost invariably rigged as single outriggers whereas most of us in 'the west' focus on their use as double canoes. Why is this I wonder? I have some ideas, all of which might be total rubbish but what do other people think? Theory 1 - Outriggers need an active crew and most of us whether by choice or necessity like to think a boat can be easily singlehanded. Theory 2 - We haven't really accepted the idea of asymmetric boats. Theory 3 - People who use the boats for work want the most boat for the least material - and this is an outrigger. I wonder which performs better?