Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 13:08:40 -0700
From: lew plummer <jayhawk@sos.net>
To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
Subject: Re: [baidarka] anatomical references
Craig O'Donnell wrote:
>
> >lew plummer wrote:
> >
> >> The Aleut craft were sized by anatomical measurments. The owners own
> >> body measurments were related directly to the boats construction. Does
> >> anyone know if these anatomical relationships have been recorded and, if
> >> so, for what type of craft?
> >>
> >> Regards, Lew Plummer
>
> FWIW, these measuring schemes were also used for Pacific sailing canoes
> (not literally the same, but I wouldn't be surprised to find 'em 80%
> identical, as in for example, fingertip to inside of elbow, or wat have
> you). Probably a widespread means of Stone Age measurement. At least one
> source I've read implies that one guy was the "human ruler" on each
> particular island in the Pacific or in each tribe on a particular island.
>
> Craig O'Donnell
> The Proa FAQ <http://www.cyber-dyne.com/~jkohnen/proafaq.html>
> The Cheap Pages <http://www.friend.ly.net/user-homepages/d/dadadata/>
> Sailing Canoes, Polytarp Sails, Bamboo, Chinese Junks,
> American Proas, the Bolger Boat Honor Roll,
> Plywood Boats, Bamboo Rafts, &c.
> _________________________________
>
> -- Professor of Boatology
> -- Junkomologist
> -- Macintosh kinda guy
> Friend of Wanda the Wonder Cat, 1991-1997.
> _________________________________
Craig,
It's my understanding that the point of making individual body
measurements, at least for the Aleut, was to tailor the boat to the
owner. One well known measurement today is the comparison of arm span
to body height, in most cases they are the same per individual. It's
all a matter of ratios.
I once designed a control system and software for a fish filleting
machine. All I had to do is measure the length of the fish, of a like
species, to anatomically locate body parts. Fish are netted in schools
so a catch is nearly all the same species. The ratio accuracy of
anatomical features, located within .125", per individual of a species
from the same school was about 95%. Nature runs some pretty tight
tolerances.
This is not to say that in some societies there was not a 90 percentile
person who was the standard for all general measurements. This is where
the English "Foot" measurement came from.
Regards, Lew Plummer