The 7 Best Kayak Outriggers
Updated by · How we research
Rigid and inflatable kayak and canoe stabilizers compared by mount, float type and fit. The YakGear Standncast wins for standing anglers who want quick removal. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Outriggers don't make a boat impossible to flip: a wake or a gust can still tip a stabilized kayak, and the floats make it harder to right. What they do well is steady the deck for anglers who stand to cast, new paddlers, kids and anyone with shaky balance, as long as the floats ride just above the water.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The YakGear Standncast now leads this list. Its arms snap out of small deck bases by hand, YakGear builds it in the U.S., and far more paddlers have used it than any other kit still sold. The Scotty 302 and the Meter Star AMA Floats stay.
Three kits left. The old Brocraft Stabilizers and the Hobie Sidekick AMA are no longer available, so the Brocraft Generation 2 takes the first one's place. Hobie owners can still get the Sidekick kit through Hobie, noted below. The Spring Creek float package went because its high price had very little owner feedback behind it.
Many readers fish from canoes, so the Brocraft Canoe Kit joins as a clamp-on choice, along with the VEVOR Inflatable Floats for tight budgets and the Pactrade Marine PE401001. The deciding evidence here was fit: rail, base, hole or clamp, the clamp openings and the weight limits each maker states, checked against Angle Oar's advice on float height and spread.
Earlier notes
October 21, 2020, by Cat Bushen:
Outriggers are a great way to add extra stability to your kayak when you're out on the water. However, they should always be used in conjunction with, not as a replacement for, a life vest. Remember, before drilling into your kayak, to think carefully about where you want to place the outriggers. An ideal way is to sit in the kayak and make a rowing motion with your arms, or paddles, to ensure the stabilizers will not hinder your stroke.
While keeping on top of the latest models available for kayak outriggers, we have introduced the YakGear Generation 2 as a replacement for this company's older model, the YakGear OR10. Whereas the latter tended to impede a rower's movement, this new model can be mounted at the front or rear of the vessel, so users can find the best fit depending on their stroke and style of kayak. We also appreciated that the arms of this set can be lifted and lowered independent of each other, so you can keep stability on the port side as you pull up close to disembark at the dock on the starboard side, or vice versa.
We added the Meter Star Accessories as a budget-friendly option. Its two floats can provide additional support, however, users need to purchase the rod and mounting hardware separately. We thought it was a worthy consideration for those that already have a way to attach this to their kayak, or possibly for those who enjoy a bit of DIY experimentation. Just be sure to secure everything properly before setting out. This update saw the removal of the Inspired By Nature option as it is not available for purchase at this time.
March 8, 2019, by Quincy Miller:
Most of the options above are capable of being used with any kayak, but there are a few — such as the Hobie Sidekick Ama — that may not work with the model you have at home, so be sure to check before ordering. Be sure to think long and hard about placement before you start drilling any holes, as some can interfere with your stroke if installed too close to the cockpit. The Spring Creek Manufacturing offering is best-suited for users who don't want to sacrifice much paddling speed in the name of stability, while the Brocraft Stabilizers are ideal for those who value staying upright above all else, such as fishermen, newbies, and those who don't swim well.
Special Honors
Angle Oar Kayak Stabilizer Floats Angle Oar, a small paddling maker, sells its own long rotomolded stabilizer floats that fit both kayaks and canoes, plus a plain-English guide to setting outriggers up. They cost more than the kits on this list but suit paddlers who want hard floats with extra length. angleoar.com
Hobie Sidekick Ama Kit Hobie has long sold a Sidekick Ama Kit made to fit its own kayaks. It isn't sold widely online now, so Hobie owners should ask a Hobie dealer about current stock and the right kit for their model. hobie.com
Match The Mount To Your Boat
Most bad outrigger buys come down to the mount, not the floats.
Most bad outrigger buys come down to the mount, not the floats. Check what your boat has before anything else. Many fishing kayaks have side rails, often called gear tracks, and a rail-mount kit like the Brocraft Generation 2 slides on with no drilling. Kits that use small deck bases, like the YakGear Standncast, need those bases fastened to the hull once, and after that the arms come off by hand. YakGear rates its set for boats under about 350 pounds all in, counting paddler and gear.
Canoes are different. Their gunwales rarely have rails, so a clamp-on kit is the cleanest fit. The Brocraft Canoe Kit grips gunwales up to 2.5 inches thick without holes. Measure yours, and check that a rounded or flared rail leaves the clamp something flat to bite. YakGear says its kit can go on a canoe only if you first mount its bases to a board across the boat. Budget inflatable kits often need existing holes for their pole holders, and a floats-only set like the Meter Star needs your own paddle or pole as the arm.
If you drill, seal every screw with marine sealant, and check whether your boat's warranty says anything about added holes.
Hard Floats Or Air Floats
Rigid floats, molded from plastic, can't go flat and shrug off rocks and docks. They take up trunk space and cost more. Angle Oar, which sells its own rotomolded floats, notes that most sets of that kind cost several times what a budget air-float kit does (Angle Oar). Vanhunks sells a rigid set with thick polyethylene floats, though it was sold out when we checked (Vanhunks).
Inflatable floats pack into a bag, weigh little and cost far less. The trade-off is air: a seam can weep, a valve can loosen and a sharp rock can puncture one. The Scotty 302 puts its bladders inside a tough fabric cover, which helps. With any air float, top it off before launching, carry the repair patches and don't leave it baking in a hot car fully inflated.
Float size matters too. Bigger floats carry more weight when you lean hard, and longer ones slip through the water with less drag.
Float Height, Spread And Staying Safe
Set the floats so they ride just above the waterline when you sit level. Angle Oar's advice is that they should only touch the water as the boat starts to lean, which keeps drag down and your paddle stroke clear (Angle Oar). Floats that sit in the water all the time slow you down and catch weeds. Wider spread gives more stability, so longer arms help, but they also snag docks and brush more easily.
Outriggers are not a safety device on their own. A boat wake or a strong gust can still tip a stabilized boat, and the floats can make it harder to flip back over, so practice getting back in. Wear a life jacket every time. The U.S. Coast Guard points out that most boating drownings happen on nice days (U.S. Coast Guard). Keep outriggers out of surf.
After each trip, rinse salt water off the arms and hardware, check that bolts and knobs are tight, and store floats out of the sun. Dry inflatable floats before you fold them away.
How we researched this
We compared 17 outrigger and stabilizer listings from about a dozen makers and sellers, read the makers' fit, mounting and warranty notes for the 7 finalists, used Angle Oar's setup guidance and U.S. Coast Guard life jacket advice for the buyer's guide, analyzed owner feedback patterns, and searched the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database for kayak gear. We found no independent lab comparison of these kits.
Frequently asked questions
Are kayak outriggers worth it?
Yes, if you want to stand to fish, are new to paddling, paddle with kids or have balance problems. They steady the boat. They don't replace paddling skill or a life jacket, and they add some drag.
What's the difference between an outrigger and a stabilizer?
Nothing in practice. Sellers use both words for the same thing: floats on side arms that resist rolling. Hobie calls its version an ama kit, the old Polynesian word for the float.
Can you put outriggers on a canoe?
Yes. A clamp-on kit like the Brocraft Canoe Kit grips the gunwale without drilling. Check that your gunwale fits inside the clamp's opening. Deck-base kits can work if you mount the bases to a board.
How far out should outriggers sit?
Farther out gives more stability. Most kits use arms around 30 inches long. Set the floats so they ride just above the water when you sit level and touch down only as the boat leans.
How do I maintain and store inflatable outriggers?
Rinse them with fresh water after salt water, let them dry fully, then deflate and fold them. Store them out of the sun, and check seams and valves before each trip. Keep the repair patches with the kit.
Do outriggers slow a kayak down?
A little, if the floats drag in the water. Raising them so they sit just above the surface cuts most of that drag.
