Re: [Paddlewise] baidarka bow styles

On 8/14/07, Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com> wrote:
>
>
> Those bow splits might have some inscrutable cultural purpose;  absent
> hard
> data:  numbers to document any advantage, debate seems mostly debate and
> not resolution of a quandary.
>

Yup... a time machine would certainly come in handy for this. The Native
Americans of the tribes in the Pacific Northwest and west coast of BC used
canoe designs to differentiate tribes and (probably) clans within a tribe. I
suspect that a lot of baidarka design could be classified as "cultural". And
it works well for that since even now we can tell a baidarka from a Mariner
Express (for instance).

The "bulbous bow" facet of the debate seems pretty well laid to rest (at
least in my own mind) because many of the bows designs (such as the example
I provided) are clearly not intended to go under the water. But that doesn't
mean that there might not be some utilitarian function that we, living in
the age of accelerated global warming, can't deduce. Or that there weren't a
combination of utility and cultural influences.

They sure are interesting though. I can see how a kayak builder (ancient or
modern) could be proud of them.


Craig Jungers
Royal City, WA
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