Canoes tend to be tippy because of their narrow shape and paddling mistakes, often in paddling beginners and people riding a canoe for the first time. Canoeists build the stabilizers for extra safety to make the canoe more stable while getting in the canoe or standing in it.
Canoe stabilizers aid the canoe stability, which means if you add them to the canoe, it will be harder for the canoe to tip over and give you more safety in any water. Many flat-bottomed canoes are more stable than those with a v-shaped bottom.
This article will explain how the canoe stabilizers work and affect the canoe’s weight and speed.
How Do Canoe Stabilizers Work?
Canoe stabilizers work as a balancing tool that can be placed on one or both sides of the canoe. They can be inflatable or made of polyethylene plastic. The latter ones are more durable and can last longer.
Stabilizers are attached to one or two beams made of durable materials like anodized aluminum or some other materials like plastic or fiberglass.
The wider they are, the more stable the canoe is.
Canoes have different shapes, and some of them are more prone to capsizing than others. Professional paddlers and canoeists have concluded that there are two types of canoe stability, which include primary and secondary stability.
Primary Canoe Stability
Primary stability is the stability of the canoe when it’s at rest in the water. Many flat bottomed canoes have high primary stability because the surface that touches the water is more prominent.
These canoes are considered ideal for novice paddlers and those who enjoy having easy fun in the water.
Secondary Canoe Stability
Secondary stability is the stability of the canoe when it’s on its side. Usually, the canoe is on its side due to the rough water surface or a strong water current.
Narrow canoes and round bottom canoes have more considerable secondary stability. They are suitable for more experienced canoeists who like adventurous waters and like to control their paddling and speed.
Depending on what kind of canoeist you aim to be, stabilizers can help you and your canoe regardless of the narrowness of the canoe bottom.
The stabilizers are attached on one or both sides of the canoe, parallel to the hull.
How To Make a Canoe Stabilizer
Canoe stabilizers are easy to make with just a few tools, aluminum pipes, and buoys.
In this video, you can see every step of making the stabilizer for the canoe that can serve as a guideline for your building process:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUrhqcyZK0g
Different kinds of canoes require a different approach and various materials for building a stabilizer. Remember to measure and adjust the height of the aluminum pipe according to the size of the canoe. Also, the type of material you use should be resistant to corrosion.
It the aluminum beam is longer and the buoy is farther from the canoe, the canoe will be more stable and vice versa.
Consider building a smaller stabilizer if you’re only using a canoe in very still waters like lakes. If you’re planning on fishing from the canoe or some other activity that requires a lot of standing up, build a larger stabilizer for more security.
If you’re building a stabilizer on just one side of the canoe, make sure to always sit on the opposite side to distribute the weight in the canoe and to balance it better.
Stabilizers from both sides are usually bigger than single stabilizer canoes and are typically used for fishing and tourism activities. Depending on your preferred activities, you’ll be able to decide if the single or double stabilizers are more suitable for you.
Do Stabilizers Affect Canoe Weight?
Stabilizers affect canoe weight as the materials usually used for stabilizers are light, with a slight influence on the canoe weight. Fiberglass, rubber, hollow plastic, and aluminum pipes will not significantly affect the canoe weight.
More giant constructions and building larger stabilizers can affect the weight of the canoe. The size of the stabilizer should be adjusted to the size of the canoe and its use.
Strong water currents and movements require more safety, and therefore, a larger stabilizer is an excellent idea to keep safety levels high. This will affect the canoe’s weight, but if it’s properly built and adjusted, the extra weight shouldn’t be any problem for the canoeist.
Do Stabilizers Affect the Canoe Speed?
Canoe stabilizers shouldn’t affect the canoe speed in any significant amount. Stabilizers should be adjusted to the objectives of the canoeist and can be hydrodynamic to help maintain the canoe speed.
Though the primary purpose of stabilizers is to keep the canoe from tipping over, you shouldn’t give up on the fact that every canoe add-on should be as efficient as possible and cater to your preferences.
Can a Canoe Stabilizer Prevent Tipping?
A canoe stabilizer can help with balancing the canoe, but there’s still a possibility of tipping over. Depending on your activities and the waters you’re using the canoe in, you’ll be able to realize where the risk lies.
It will be harder to flip the canoe over when the stabilizers are on. Still, if the waters are troubled and the weight in the canoe is unevenly distributed, there’s a possibility of flipping over.
In this video, you can see how the stabilizers can make the tipping of the canoe harder, even if you have just one stabilizer on one side of the canoe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdpT08rBU28
The awareness about stability can make the canoeing experience pleasant, but remember that you need to adjust the speed and equipment for the different waters and the currents.
Key Takeaways
Canoe stabilizers will make your canoe more stable in all situations, especially when the water currents are strong and unpredictable. Novice paddlers and canoeists will feel safer with the stabilizers on the canoe because they can easily balance the canoe in all types of water.
Making a stabilizer yourself is an excellent opportunity to save a little money on your canoe, and it’s an easy and fun process if you like crafting your gear.