DIY Kayak Outriggers or Stabilizers – (Nucanoe U10)

DIY Kayak Outriggers or Stabilizers

I know the Nucanoe U10 is supposed to be one of the most stabile kayaks on the market. But I needed a little extra. I managed to flip it once and didn’t want to do it again. These stabilizers work really well. I was somewhat skeptical about how well they would work. Some of the youtube videos of other builds did not impress me when they showed how well they worked. My kayak gained a substantial amount of stability. It allowed me to raise my seat several inches, but it is now nice and comfortable. I am sure you will be happy with a similar DIY Kayak Outriggers or Stabilizers project. If you do a similar project, let me know.

I started with the boat fenders. I did some research and liked the boat fender idea better than the lobster trap float (for reasons I can’t really explain)

I ripped a piece of 3/4″ oak to 2″ wide and gave it several coats of green paint to match the kayak. This strip goes all the way across the kayak and is held by two bolts in the track on both ends. I cut a metal strip that holds it in place, this gives me some minor adjustment from side to side should it be needed. 

The Frame is 3/4″ schedule 40 PVC pipe. It has been sanded with 220 grit sandpaper and wiped down with rubbing alcohol. It’s also painted green.

I didn’t think to take a picture, but to bolt the fenders to the caps, I drilled a hole in the pvc cap, and actually epoxied 1/4″ x 20 x 2″ stainless steel bolts in them. Then I added a rubber washer (I cut mine from an old tire tube but you can buy them) and a stainless steel fender washer on both sides.

I also added more air to make the fenders hard (note, I didn’t need a football needle, the pointed end of my compressor hose worked. Luckily because I couldn’t find the football needle)

They are set far enough forward that they do not interfere with paddling.

The adjustment comes from the flag pole holders. I drilled out the thumb screw hole and replaced it with these pins. This allow the stabilizers to easily and quickly be removed. Note the inside of these were tapered, so you need to sand a taper to the end of the pvc to get it to fit all the way in.

MARK YOUR LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. THEY WILL LIKLY BE SOME MINOR DIFFERENCES IN ALIGNMENT

The flag pole brackets allow for adjustment or raising them out of the water slightly (to eliminate all drag for long straight hauls if desired. Or completely out of the way for getting the kayak in and out of the water or on and off the truck or trailer. 

The whole setup can be removed with the 4 wing nuts on each side of the wooden strip. Typically I simply pull the pins and pull the outriggers from the flag pole holders. The outriggers could also be removed by taking the flag pole holders apart. I take the flag poles apart when I’m loading it on the roof racks, the cross beams stay on.

I did a speed test  in the lake and did not see a difference with the stabilizers up or down.

I moved the outriggers to the behind the seat. I did not notice a big difference in performance or usability, sop only time will tell if they remain there permanently of go back toward the from.

I hope this helps of gives others ideas for their own DIY Kayak Outriggers or Stabilizers project.