How safe are the Orchid Outrigger canoes?
The Orchid Outrigger canoe is far and away the safest paddled craft on the estuary or anywhere else in the world. The craft is designed for ocean paddling and even in extreme conditions on the bay the canoe remains composed and dry. The biggest challenge for a paddled craft is the wind, and it can get windy on the bay. The gusting 20 to 25 knot winds which can develop in the afternoon will send all but the most seasoned kayak and traditional canoe paddlers back to the beach and, in some cases, blow them helplessly to leeward. The Orchid Outriggers’ design heritage gives it far superior handling, performance, and speed in rough, windy conditions. (If there is anyone reading this who cares to dispute the above statements and has a paddled craft of similar size: anywhere, any weather, anytime.) The canoe’s ability to be paddled against an out-going tide is also worth mentioning here. With a non-paddling observer in the front seat, the outrigger has been paddled by guide alone from the Mor
