RE: [Paddlewise] Baidarka thoughts

> Harvey said (snip):
> > The 'open-mouth' baidarkas apparently had thin strips of 
> baleen placed 
> > to prevent things from getting caught in the mouth.  Other 
> baidarkas 
> > have an upturned lower portion, thus having an integral 
> mouthgaurd as 
> > it were.
> 
Doug said: (snip)
> Thanks Harvey; should have been obvious to me without asking, 
> the answer being native ingenuity based on materials available.

Doug,

One of my friends (John Peterson  - Shayman Kayaks
http://shamankayaks.com/shaman/) builds SOF boats using the same methods and
materials as the original  kayakers (except he uses a nylon skin instead of
sealskin) and he puts a piece of string on the bows of the baidarkas he
builds to simulate the baleen the Native American paddlers used. He
regularly paddles through kelp and rolls in it and he has never had a
problem with it to my knowledge.

Steve
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