@MrGrimm888 Sorry for not responding sooner. I know the risks very well. Our 6 paddler canoe flipped at the Pailolo Challenge race (Maui to Molokai) last September (extreme conditions) we were ordered to abandon our canoe by race officials and the Coast Guard. Bummer.
It’s normal to use a j-stroke in and outrigger canoe. I’m unfamiliar with fishing in a canoe. I can’t help you with that. But I use whatever strokes that I need to use to control the canoe. Besides the j-stroke I like to use the draw stroke a lot and also a post, a pry, a poke, a crank and a few that there are no names for. I’m focused like a laser to make the canoe go where I want it to go. This is especially important when in a race or steering a canoe with other paddlers in it. Just a moment of daydreaming can send a fast moving canoe careening off course.
If anyone is still interested, another paddler and I engineered this system to transport my 31 foot canoe on top of my Ford F150 pickup.
It’s easy tp load and unload (my wife and I can easily do it). Drove around town and took ti to the Puget Sound and a near by lake to paddle with no problems. Very like for it’s size (only 85 pounds without the outrigger probably less than 120 with). I use 8 straps (2 ratchet) to secure the canoe for transport. Cops have seen me drive by and haven’t given me a ticket yet.
The Thule utility racks lower down to facilitate loading and unloading. The guy at REI advised against it because the racks don’t lower smoothly but I just use a 4” X 4” plank to take the weight off the Thule racks before I lower them and the canoe (reverse the process when raising the Thule racks and canoe.
Many may still think that getting a trailer is best way to transport this 31 foot canoe. But I really like the maneuverability of this system. Far easier to find parking and get in and out of parking areas. I’m driving from Tacoma to race in Portland tomorrow (144 miles each way). Going to try to cruise at about 60 mph. Can’t wait to hit it.