What is an outrigger canoe
An outrigger canoe is a narrow, paddled canoe with one or more floats attached to the side of the main hull by connecting booms. The hull on its own is slim and would tip easily, and the float, called an outrigger, adds stability so the boat can be used in open water. Outrigger canoes are strongly associated with the Pacific Islands and are also used in parts of Southeast Asia, Madagascar and elsewhere.
Parts and terms
The vocabulary comes mostly from Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages. Common terms include:
- Hull: the main body of the canoe, called the waʻa in Hawaiian (vaʻa in some other Polynesian languages).
- Ama: the outrigger float, which sits on one side of the hull.
- ʻIako: the booms or bars that connect the ama to the hull.
- Steering: often handled by the paddler in the last seat, who uses the paddle or a rudder, depending on the canoe.
Terms vary by language and club, so you may hear different words in different regions.
Why the outrigger helps
A float on one side resists the boat rolling over in that direction, and its weight and buoyancy help keep the hull upright. The paddlers still need to balance the canoe, particularly in waves, but a narrow hull with an ama is more forgiving than the same hull without one. The slim hull itself is the reason these canoes can be fast and efficient.
Single and double outriggers
Some canoes have an ama on one side only, while others have floats on both sides. Double outriggers are seen in various parts of Southeast Asia and elsewhere, and they give more stability but add width and drag. Pacific voyaging canoes also include double-hulled designs, in which two hulls are joined by a platform. These are a different design from a single hull with a float.
Why Hawaiian canoes usually have one ama
The reasons are practical rather than rigid rules. A single ama keeps the boat narrower and lighter than a double-outrigger design, which helps with speed and with launching and landing in surf. It also makes it simpler to turn into waves and to catch ocean swells. Paddlers can also use the ama side to help balance the canoe, depending on conditions. Hawaiian canoes usually have the ama on the left side, though some other traditions place it on the right.
Origins in the Pacific
Outrigger technology is generally credited to Austronesian-speaking peoples and is often estimated to be several thousand years old. Austronesian voyagers moved across Southeast Asia, the Pacific and, by one route, to Madagascar, using canoes with outriggers or double hulls. The exact timeline is discussed by scholars, and details differ, so take specific dates with caution. For background on how this fits with other early boat traditions, see our history of the canoe.
Traditional hulls were often carved from a single log or built up from planks. Their approach is related to that of the dugout canoe.
Crew sizes and uses today
Modern outrigger canoeing is organised by crew size:
- OC1: a single paddler
- OC2: two paddlers
- OC3, OC4 and OC6: larger crews, with six-person canoes the most common in many club races
Outrigger paddling is practiced as a recreational activity and a competitive sport in Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, North America and elsewhere. Many clubs hold regattas and long-distance channel races, and traditional canoes still have a role in fishing and cultural events. Modern hulls are often built from fiberglass or other composites, while many cultural groups still build and use wooden canoes.
Common strains and safety basics
Paddling is repetitive, and shoulders, back and wrists are often named as areas where overuse strains can happen. Good technique, warm-ups and building up training time gradually are commonly recommended, and a coach or club can help with form. Specific injury statistics are hard to pin down, so if you have pain, consult a medical professional.
On the water, wear a life jacket (check your state’s boating rules), check the weather, know the conditions, and go with an experienced group when you are starting out. Open-water outrigger paddling can involve waves, wind and currents that call for training.
Outrigger vs other canoes
Compared with a standard open canoe, an outrigger canoe is narrower and usually faster in the water, but it needs more technique to balance and is typically paddled on one side with timed changes. A conventional canoe is wider and more stable for casual use. If you are comparing paddled boats more broadly, see kayak vs canoe. For the range of conventional hull designs, see our article on canoe shapes and styles.