Love them or hate them, kayak outriggers are a part of the boating landscape.
If you want more stability from your kayak while you paddle, fish, or sail, then learning how to use a kayak outrigger will help.
If you are a kayak purist whose sole purpose is to paddle far and fast, then you’re welcome to learn more about how to increase your kayak speed and how far you can paddle in a day.
To use a kayak outrigger:
1. Inflate the floats (if they’re not PVC).
2. Attach the floats to the outrigger arms.
3. Secure the outrigger arms to the mounting bracket.
4. Set the angle of the arms higher for less stability and lower for more stability.
5. Adjust the tilt of the floats upwards for sailing, downwards for fishing and flat for paddling.
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What is a kayak outrigger? – A brief introduction
In their simplest form, kayak outriggers are designed with an arm and a float. The arm extends perpendicularly from the kayak and is usually about three feet in length.
The float sits at the end of the arm on top of the water and is positioned parallel to the kayak. This float provides buoyancy and stability to the paddler and boat.
Kayak outriggers come in many different shapes and sizes. Some are factory manufactured, others are DIY creations.
(Frankly, my favorite kayak outriggers are DIY designs.)
Table of Contents
How to install a kayak outrigger
While the process of installing a kayak outrigger is unique to the specific model, there are several commonalities.
1. Decide which end to install it
Many paddlers recommend that a kayak outrigger be installed at the stern end of the boat, between 2/3 and 3/4 of length of the boat as measured from the bow. The exact location is decided by where there is an appropriate place to attach it.
Many paddlers choose to install their kayak outrigger at the stern of the boat because the outrigger doesn’t get in the way of the paddle stroke, nor does it get tangled up with fishing line.
There is, however, a subgroup of paddlers that prefer to mount their outrigger on the bow of their kayak, preferring increased stability at the front of their boat, rather than the rear.
While the decision is yours, you do need to confirm that there is room either at the bow or stern of your kayak for an outrigger.
2. Mark locations to drill screw holes
If the outrigger and kayak are manufactured by the same company, then their designs are most likely compatible. In other words, the kayak will be manufactured with a specific location for a particular outrigger design in mind.
If, however, you are hoping to install an aftermarket outrigger manufactured by a third party, then you’ll need to make sure that there is sufficient flat space on your kayak deck to accept your chosen outrigger.
Some outrigger designs attach the arm to the kayak at one single point, allowing for only one point of contact with the boat.
Other designs attach the arm to the kayak at one single point, but connect the two attachment points with a bar that runs across the deck of the boat. This is my preferred design because it allows the stresses taken on by an individual kayak arm to be distributed across the kayak, rather than concentrated at one particular location.
Regardless of the particular outrigger design, most models allow for an attachment point at both the port and starboard side.
To properly mark the screw locations, first determine approximately where to locate the mounting plate. Using a marker, mark only one of the screw holes.
Then attach the float to the arm and the arm to the mounting plate. Adjust the arm and plate so that the arm is perfectly perpendicular to the kayak. In so doing, the float will align perfectly parallel to the kayak.
It’s important to get this step right so that your kayak tracks straight while paddling (or pedaling, or sailing.)
When you are satisfied with the location of the outrigger arm and float, use the marker to mark the other drill hole locations.
For models with a bar that connects across the kayak deck, it’s important that the mounting plates are not located too far apart, otherwise you won’t be able to actually connect the outrigger arms.
Repeat the process on the other side of the kayak.
3. Drill the holes to attach the mounting plate
I prefer to drill a pilot hole with a small drill bit, then finish the hole with a full-sized bit.
Sometimes larger drill bits struggle to bite the kayak material. The pilot hole gives larger drill bits something to bite.
This reduces the risk of damage as well as drilling a hole that has ‘wandered’ away from its proper location.
4. Attach the mounting plate to the kayak.
You might be asking yourself how it’s possible to keep water from flooding into the holes you just drilled in your kayak deck.
The answer is well nuts. Well nuts are removable rivets constructed with a metal interior and a rubberized exterior.
Well nuts can be used for blind fastenings when only one side of the hole is exposed (like a kayak).
The action of screwing a screw into an installed well nut creates a mechanical, waterproof seal.
To begin to attach the mounting plate, push the well nuts into the drilled holes.
Do not add silicon or waterproof goop to the well nuts. This will make them spin so the screws can’t grip.
Once the well nuts are inserted, it is time to attach the mounting plate.
Some mounting plates are attached by themselves. Other times, you’re required to attach the outrigger arm and mounting plate at the same time. Follow the manufacturer instructions to be sure.
Align the mounting plate holes with the well nuts and hand-twist the screws into the well nuts.
When all of the screws have been inserted into the well nuts, tighten them with a screwdriver. If you must use a drill, the set it to low torque so that you don’t overtighten and damage the hole.
5. Attach the adjustment mechanism and outrigger arms
If your kayak outrigger allows for height adjustment of the arm, now is the time to attach the adjustment mechanism.
Usually this adjustment mechanism is constructed with a ratcheting feature that allows you to raise and lower your outrigger arm according to the conditions of the water.
Not all kayak outriggers can adjust the height of their arms; however, the ability to do so increases flexibility in the face of wind, waves and currents.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to attach the adjustment mechanism to the mounting plate.
Once the arm adjustment mechanism is in place, attach the outrigger arm.
Some outrigger arms slide directly onto the cross-bar that was installed earlier. Other arms insert into the adjustment mechanism.
6. Attach the pontoons
If the pontoons are not permanently attached to the outrigger arms, then follow the manufacturer’s instructions to attach them.
These are the broad steps to installing a typical kayak outrigger.
Each aftermarket outrigger is different, so remember that you have to make sure that your outrigger of interest fits your kayak.
Also, you do have to spiritually prepare to drill holes in your precious kayak. For some, this can be a challenging idea to over come.
Kayak pontoons and how to inflate them (if needed)
Outrigger floats typically come in two different varieties, solid and inflatable.
Both are buoyant.
PVC floats are solid and durable. This material is used for many marine applications of an industrial variety.
The strength of PVC is also its weakness. Because it is strong and durable, it maintains its shape. This is great until it’s time to pack everything away.
You can’t fold up a PVC float. It is what it is.
An inflatable float, on the other hand, has a different profile. It features a bladder within an outer membrane.
Inflatable floats pack away into small packages until you’re ready to embark on the water, at which point they must be inflated.
Because pontoons are inflatable, they are more prone to puncture than PVC floats.
This doesn’t mean they’re not well-constructed. Rather, it simply means they’re comparatively more risky than PVC.
So, on the one hand you have PVC that is sturdy but less convenient. On the other hand, you have inflatables that are less sturdy but more convenient.
It’s good to have choice.
When it comes time to inflate your inflatable pontoon, it usually takes three-five solid breaths to get the job done. This is not an onerous task.
How to start your day with a kayak outrigger system
With a kayak outrigger system, you not only have to carry your kayak from your vehicle to the water, you also have to carry your outrigger arms and pontoons.
If you are an angler, then it’s likely you use a kayak cart to pull your belongings to the water. If this is the case, simply place the outrigger arms and pontoons on top of the boat and pull them along with everything else.
It’s usually easiest to attach the outrigger arms to the kayak before placing it in the water.
Attach the pontoon floats to the outrigger arms. Then, attach the arms to the mounting brackets.
Once you are in the water, adjust the height of the outrigger arms (if possible) to be most helpful, given the water conditions.
Also, tilt the pontoon according to what you plan to do, be it paddling (no tilt), sailing (upward tilt), or fishing (downward tilt.)
How to use a kayak outrigger while fishing
Kayak outriggers really come into their own when used for angling.
Most serious kayak anglers use sit-on-top kayaks as their boat of choice.
Sit-on-top kayaks provide stability, lots of room to store and access fishing gear and, more than anything, the ability to stand up.
Some fishing is just more successful when you can stand up and see the area in which you want to cast.
While sit-on-top kayaks typically more stable than sit-in kayaks, they’re still nothing like a fishing boat.
However, with the installation of an outrigger, fishing while standing up becomes much easier.
The entire purpose of a kayak outrigger is to increase stability. Adding two floats to the mix creates a much more stable boat that lets an angler focus more on the task of fishing and less on the risk capsizing their kayak.
If the fishing kayak is equipped with independently-adjustable outrigger arms, then each arm depth can be set according to the prevailing wind, waves and current.
Set the outrigger arms lower to increase the stability of the boat. If waves are hitting the boat from a single direction, then lower the downwave arm a little more to offset the effect.
Pontoons create drag in the water. They slow down your forward progression. When it is time to move on from your fishing location, simply adjust the outrigger arms and lift the pontoons out of the water.
This will let you make much better time en route to your next destination, than if you were forced to paddle with the pontoons fully in the water. Of course, this is only if your outrigger arms are adjustable.
If they aren’t adjustable, you can usually still pull them directly off and stow them in your boat in advance of moving on to another location, or heading home.
Many kayak outrigger models also allow for pontoon tilt adjustment.
If you have found a great fishing spot, tilt the bow-end of the pontoons to face down. This slows the forward progression of your kayak, slowing the drift away from your preferred position.
How to use while sailing
Assuming you catch the wind right, rigging a sail to your kayak can take your velocity game to the next level.
Personally, kayak sailing is something I’ve never done. I’m not sure why. I probably just haven’t thought about it.
What is clear is that, attaching a huge canvas sheet to your kayak puts you at the mercy of the wind. You are always one strong gust away from floating in the water beside your boat.
Now, kayakers that enjoy sailing typically retrofit their kayak with a keel. This is a large blade that sits vertically below the kayak and serves to provide some stability against capsize.
Another retrofit that is very common among the kayak sailing community is the outrigger. Kayak outriggers can be quite effective at reducing the risk of capsize when using a sail.
If you choose to use an outrigger while kayak sailing, adjust the pontoons by tilting the bow end up. All things being equal, this serves to reduce ‘wetted surface area’, reducing drag and increasing your kayak speed.
Kayak Outrigger Alternatives
For a little more stability while you kayak, consider the following outrigger alternatives: YakGear Generation 2 or Hobie Sidekick.
How to use a kayak outrigger – Parting thoughts
Paddlers can increase the stability of their boat with kayak outriggers. They do so by attaching buoyant material to your boat and increasing your kayak’s overall footprint on the water.
Be sure to purchase (or DIY) an outrigger that fits your kayak. Also, spiritually prepare for the fact that you’ll need to drill holes in your precious boat.
Kayak outriggers provide much needed stability for anglers as well as much appreciated stability for sailors.
Finally, some outrigging systems allow for arm and pontoon adjustment, letting you customize the stability you experience around the entirety of your boat. Outriggers aren’t for everyone. But as they say, those that like them, like them a lot!