Subject: Re: [baidarka] (baidarka) Greenland kayak beam calculation
From: Harvey Golden (qayaq@pacifier.com)
Date: Thu Jun 07 2001 - 18:41:08 EDT
Dear Phil,
Your kayak is likely not "too narrow" (18") for a Greenland kayak. All the
texts you mentioned do talk about custom fitting a kayak, which is of course
a most obvious consideration if one hopes to fit in their kayak. Petersen,
whose work "Instructions in Kayak Building" (1981) Is the closest to the
tradition, but even then, his statement on page 6 must be kept in mind
through the entire process. (to paraphrase: His instructions are a
composite of ideas and techniques from throughout Greenland, and while they
will indeed 'build a kayak,' they are likely to cause objections among many
veteran Greenland kayak builders. They are not specific to a particular
region.)
All the mentioned texts (see original e.mail, bottom) include what are known
as "Anthropometric" measurements-- essentially dimensions arrived upon based
on the size of the builder's body. These techniques essentially ensure the
kayaker will fit in his/her kayak-- which is probably the single-most
important consideration for builders.
The "hips-plus-two-fists" rule for the kayak's max. width has been quoted
often. The kayak's length is often written as being "3 arm-spans." These
may have been a particular kayak-builders personal 'rule-of-thumb', but they
cannot be held as THE rule. (If it helps at all, the average breadth of
some 23 Greenlandic kayaks I surveyed in 1998 is 17.84" wide. They range
from West Greenland, 1600's, to East Greenland 20th Century.)
To respond specifically to your questions:
> (1)Is the hips-and-two-fists rule common to hunting boats all across
> Greenland, or does it vary with locality?
There are exceptions galore-- both geographically and temporally. I've
measured a number of Greenland Kayaks from the 1600's, and when one works
backwards from the "Anthropometric" rules, one finds that several of these
kayaks' builders had hips that were about 8" wide. Likewise, if one
considers the kayak's length "should be approximately 3 times the height of
the kayaker" (Petersen, 1981:8), these same wasp-waisted kayakers were over
6 feet tall. Such antrhopometric rules certainly existed, but they have
changed over the years, and vary tremendously from area-to-area.
> (2)What other uses are there for kayaks, and what rule applies in those
> cases?
The different uses of Greenlandic Kayaks does greatly affect the size and
proportions. Petersen goes into this in his 1986 book "Skinboats of
Greenland"-- especially pages 43--50. Kaj Birket-Smith also mentions these
variations in his 1924 "Ethnography of the Egedesminde District." (see pages
265, 268-271)
>
> (3)What is the appropriate freeboard for a hunting boat, and how do I
> compensate for removing the weight of all the junk they carry on deck?
Again, this varies tremendously as well. Hunting kayaks were paddled
un-loaded as well as loaded-- and even loaded with 'catch' on board. The
paddler's weight may vary considerably as well. (Some people may be
'compensating' for the lack of a full hunting-kit by simply weighing more!)
I figure a fully-kitted rifle-period kayak would have some 40# of gear on
deck.
> (4)Has anyone collected a complete set of anthropomorphic rules for any of
> the greenland kayak types? If so, where can I find it?
I don't believe the information exists much beyond what can be found in
Petersen's books. They will ensure a kayak that fits, but one that may be
waaaay out of proportion from kayaks that come from the Greenlandic
tradition. My measurements would provide me a kayak 16'6" with a beam of
20.5"-- not a bad size in any way, but then, my very favorite Greenland
Kayak (a replica) measures 17" wide and 17' long, and I regularly paddle
kayaks ranging from 15-1/4" wide to 20.5", from 16' long to just under 20'
long. This is to say, I fit in sizes that are very different than the
dimensions arrived upon through "anthropometrics." I should of course
mention that I am smaller than the average Southerner. . . .I weigh 125# and
am 5'8" tall. (Arctic Ethnologist Eugene Arima said I am built like an Inuk
late-teenager entering spring) If I was considerably larger than the
average Inuk (adult or teen), I would certainly have to greatly modify every
Greenland kayak I have built--- whereupon anthropometrics would be a
god-send.
I don't wish to detract the value of these 'rules:' They ensure a fit
(though there are many other factors, of course), but are for
ethnographic/historic purposes extremely vague, and cannot be relied upon as
truth for any particular region in Greenland.
I hope this helps in some way. Bottom line is that you like your 18"
wide kayak, and that is essentially "everything."
All the Best, (and bring it to Delmarva!!!)
Harvey
----- Original Message -----
From: Phil Ellis <pcoellis@hotmail.com>
To: <baidarka@lists.intelenet.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2001 5:13 PM
Subject: [baidarka] Greenland kayak beam calculation
> So I've read both Petersen books, according to which my current boat inch
or
> so too narrow, and the Chris Cunningham article, which calls it 2" too
> narrow and Bob Morris' book which says the same, perused the beam stats in
> Petersen and the survey tables on David Zimmerly's web site, looked at the
> pictures in La Civilization du Phoque and 'Og dens Redskaber, viewed
Rolling
> with Maligiaq, which also cites the "hips plus two fists" rule, but notes
> that boats can be built to other specs, and finally relaxed enough in my
18"
> wide Disko Bay replica to discover that it really does have secondary
> stability and is a very entertaining boat despite all the intentional and
> unintentional changes that occurred during construction, and I have a few
> questions about beam calculation that I'd like to get answers to before I
> start laying out another boat.
>
> (1)Is the hips-and-two-fists rule common to hunting boats all across
> Greenland, or does it vary with locality?
>
> (2)What other uses are there for kayaks, and what rule applies in those
> cases?
>
> (3)What is the appropriate freeboard for a hunting boat, and how do I
> compensate for removing the weight of all the junk they carry on deck?
>
> (4)Has anyone collected a complete set of anthropomorphic rules for any of
> the greenland kayak types? If so, where can I find it?
>
> Thanks for any and all help.
>
> Regards,
>
> Phil
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