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History
Outrigger canoes were originally developed by the Austronesian speaking peoples of the islands of Southeast Asia for sea travel, and were used to transport these peoples both eastward through to Polynesia and New Zealand and westward across the Indian Ocean as far as Madagascar during the Austronesian migration period. Even today, it is exclusively among the Austronesian groups (Malay, Micronesian, Melanesian and Polynesian peoples) that outrigger canoes are used.
When Magellan's ships first encountered the Chamorros of the Mariana Islands in 1521, Antonio Pigafetta recorded that the Chamorros' sailboats far surpassed Magellan's in speed and maneuverability. In fact, the Micronesian sailing canoe, the proa, was the fastest sailing vessel in existence well into the 20th century.
The Polynesian Voyaging Society has two double hull sailing canoes, Hokuleʻa and Hawaiʻiloa, and sails them between various islands in the Pacific using traditional Polynesian navigation methods without instruments.
The technology has persisted into the modern age. Outrigger canoes can be quite large fishing or transport vessels, and in the Philippines, outrigger canoes (called "bangka or "banca") are often fitted with gasoline engines.
Modern sport use
Outrigger canoe racing has become a popular canoeing sport, with numerous clubs located around the world.
Six person outrigger canoes (or OC6) are among the most common used for sport use; single person outrigger canoes (or OC1) are also very common. Two and four person outrigger canoes are also sometimes used, and two six person outrigger canoes are sometimes rigged together like a catamaran to form a twelve person double canoe.
Modern OC6 hulls and amas are commonly made from fiberglass. However, some canoes are made of more traditional materials, such as being carved from koa tree logs in Hawaii. The ʻiako are usually made of wood; the ʻiako-ama and ʻiako-hull connections are typically done with rope wrapped and tied in interlocking fashion to reduce the risk of the connection coming completely apart if the rope breaks.
Modern OC1 hulls and amas are commonly made from fiberglass, carbon fiber, and/or Kevlar to produce a strong but light canoe. OC1 are often made with rudders operated by foot pedals. More traditional designs do not have rudders. OC1 commonly use ʻiako made of aluminum, with a mechanism for quickly assembling and disassembling the canoe (snap buttons, large wing nuts, etc.).
See also
External links
- World of Boats at Eyemouth ~ Outrigger Canoes:
- Original Outrigger Canoe (Drua) in the Fiji Museum
- An Introduction to Outrigger Canoe Paddling
- Orchid Outriggers - Experience photo tours in handmade outrigger canoes on the central coast of California.
- An interactive for kids featuring a traditional outrigger canoe commissioned by the National Museum of Australia
- Dragon Boat and Outrigger Canoe website
- "Master Strokes." Article about outrigger canoe club in Haleʻiwa, Hawai'i. Hana Hou! Vol. 10, No. 3 (June/July 2007).
- new hope outrigger - Complete online resource to the sport and history of outrigger canoeing.
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