Lenght of an Outrigger Canoe

One of the most obvious characteristics of an outrigger sailing canoe is its extreme length-to-beam ratio. Measurements can reveal a waterline length of twenty or more times the waterline beam of the hull. An extremely narrow hull creates a very efficient shape which produces such small waves that it has few of the speed limitations found in beamier displacement hulls. A hull this narrow would, of course, fall over without an ama or another hull to stabilize it.

Oceanic canoes are extravagant with length, as they are seldom confined to modern marinas where you pay by length. Nothing contributes to comfort sea more than pure length. Having said that, the canoes in this book are all of a length to enable them to be built in your garage and transported on the roof of a car.