Outriggers on small watercraft

Discussion in 'Stability' started by Tacothebell, Jun 10, 2025.

  1. Tacothebell
    Joined: Jun 2025
    Posts: 6
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    Location: Michigan

    Tacothebell Junior Member

    Picked this up cheap.

    It's solid fiberglass design with a flat bottom.

    Was going to put a little 2.5 outboard on the back but for stabilization needs was going to add some outriggers to each side.

    Never attempted any kind of addition like this

    Any information on how to maximize stabilization from the pictures I've supplied would be great.

    Thanks

    *The lake we are on isnt very deep so it's a very smooth lake.
     

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  2. montero
    Joined: Nov 2024
    Posts: 472
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    Location: Poland

    montero Senior Member

    Hi ! Tacothebell
    If you put stronger engine , it will be more stable at speed . How much unstable is it ? It's possible to stand up for a while ?
     
  3. Tacothebell
    Joined: Jun 2025
    Posts: 6
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    Location: Michigan

    Tacothebell Junior Member

    Hello

    Thanks for responding

    You can stand in it but I'd like to make it more stable.

    I'm looking to do a versatile boat.

    Fast and fishing basically.

    The Pontoon outriggers that I was planning on putting on the sides would be to maximize stability so you could stand up in any sort of chop

    I was thinking of putting a 2.5 horsepower motor on.

    And I've had a few people tell me that that'll be pretty fast

    We haven't had anything bigger than a troller on the back
     
  4. montero
    Joined: Nov 2024
    Posts: 472
    Likes: 59, Points: 28
    Location: Poland

    montero Senior Member

    Nothing will be fast with 2.5hp . What about 2stroke 4hp Johnson/Evinrude ?
    What kind of pontoons , dimensions and how it will be attached to the hull ?
     
  5. Tacothebell
    Joined: Jun 2025
    Posts: 6
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    Location: Michigan

    Tacothebell Junior Member

    4 horse huh? I never looked into that I figured I'd be too much but I'll definitely look into it.

    They're 18" x 36" plastic pontoons filled with a heavy duty foam for buoyancy.

    I plan on running the entire Hall with through bolts attached to aluminum 1x4s.

    I don't have exact measurements on the boat that's what I'm working on.

    As far as the mounting hardware, I plan having a company custom make me some aluminum pieces to connect the pontoons to the hull.

    I have my younger brother working on a 3D rendering so I can get a better idea of what it's going to look like.
     

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  6. Tacothebell
    Joined: Jun 2025
    Posts: 6
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    Location: Michigan

    Tacothebell Junior Member

    I'm open to any and all suggestions.

    I've never built anything like this before
     
  7. portacruise
    Joined: Jun 2009
    Posts: 1,550
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    Location: USA

    portacruise Senior Member

    Pontoons will help the anchored stability but possibly worsen the stability at speed. If a heavy and Powerful motor is used, weight might have to be redistributed inside in order to help stability at High speed. The pontoons will act differently at high speed depending upon if they are hugging the hull or on the end of extensions, what the shape is, where they are mounted, and how deep they dip into the water. Hard to tell what it would take to make that kind of boat go up on plane, if that is your goal. So it might be a matter of trial and error until you get the best combination that gives you the speed you want.
     
  8. Tacothebell
    Joined: Jun 2025
    Posts: 6
    Likes: 0, Points: 1
    Location: Michigan

    Tacothebell Junior Member

    One of my main concerns would be to spin out.

    I hate to buy a motor and put it on just to see that this boat will spin out

    I'll be out at my property this weekend I'll take specific dimensions.

    If I can share them on this thread, any help would be the appreciated
     
  9. montero
    Joined: Nov 2024
    Posts: 472
    Likes: 59, Points: 28
    Location: Poland

    montero Senior Member

    This is "Return of the Jedi " shaped hull , it also resembles something , designer inspired by fishing kayaks ?
     
    Tacothebell likes this.

  10. Tacothebell
    Joined: Jun 2025
    Posts: 6
    Likes: 0, Points: 1
    Location: Michigan

    Tacothebell Junior Member

    The guy I bought it from is from North Carolina and he was getting rid of it cuz he couldn't get in and out of it anymore cuz he was older

    But yeah he used it as a duck hunting boat and he said he would fish off of it as well
     
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