Outriggers

An outrigger is a projecting stabilizing member or framework attached to a vehicle, vessel, or structure to improve stability, distribute loads, or increase maneuverability. Outriggers can be passive attachments extending outward from the main body, and they may be fixed or retractable depending on application. The term is used across maritime, industrial, and architectural contexts.

Maritime outriggers include outrigger canoes and sailing outrigger boats. In an outrigger canoe, one or more lateral floats (amas) are connected to the main hull by spars (iako) or struts, providing buoyancy and resistance to tipping. The design enables a longer hull and greater stability in rough water. In sailing vessels and catamarans, outriggers or lateral floats can function to balance sails and reduce leeway.

Under fishing and commercial operations, outriggers are long booms used to extend lines or nets away from the vessel, reducing interference between gear and the hull and increasing coverage area.

Cranes, construction equipment, and architecture use outriggers to increase stability under load. Mobile cranes deploy hydraulic legs outward from the base, to resist tipping during lifts. Tall buildings sometimes employ outrigger systems—rigid extensions anchored to external belt trusses and the foundation—to counteract wind and seismic forces.

In design and safety, outriggers require careful calculation of load, foundation, and interaction with the main structure.