Anoutrigger is a projecting structure on a boat, with specific meaning depending on types of vessel. Outriggers may also refer to legs on a wheeled vehicle that are folded out when it needs stabilization, for example on acrane that lifts heavy loads.
An outrigger describes any contraposing floatrigging beyond the side (gunwale) of a boat to improve the vessel's stability. If a single outrigger is used it is usually but not alwayswindward.[1][why?] The technology was originally developed by theAustronesian people. There are two main types of boats with outriggers: double outriggers (prevalent inmaritime Southeast Asia) and single outriggers (prevalent inMadagascar,Melanesia,Micronesia andPolynesia).Multihull ships are also derived from outrigger boats.[2]
In anoutrigger canoe and insailboats such as theproa, an outrigger is a thin, long, solid,hull used to stabilise an inherently unstable main hull. The outrigger is positioned rigidly and parallel to the main hull so that the main hull is less likely tocapsize. If only one outrigger is used on a vessel, itsweight reduces the tendency to capsize in one direction and itsbuoyancy reduces the tendency in the other direction.
On akeelboat, "outrigger" refers to a variety of structures by which therunning rigging (such as asheet) may be attached outboard (outside the lateral limits) of the boat's hull. TheRacing Rules of Sailing generally prohibit[3] such outriggers, though they are explicitly permitted on specific classes, such as theIMOCA Open 60[4] used in several major offshore races.
Infishing from vessels, an outrigger is a pole or series of poles that allow boats to trawl more lines in the water without tangling and simulates a school of fish.
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In arowing boat orgalley, an outrigger (or rigger) is a triangular frame that holds therowlock (into which theoar is slotted) away from the saxboard (or gunwale ingig rowing) to optimize leverage. Wooden outriggers appear on the newtrireme around the 7th or 6th centuries BC and later on Italian galleysaround AD 1300, whileHarry Clasper (1812–1870), aBritish professional rower, popularised the use of the modern tubular-metal version and the top rowing events accepted the physiological and ergonomic advantages so acceded to its use in competitions. In recent decades, some manufacturers ofracing shells have developedwing-riggers which are reinforced arcs or flattened tubular projections akin to aircraft wings, instead of conventional triangular structures.
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