Re: Photo Essay on Barrow's Wood Framed Skin Umiaqs

From: Floyd L. Davidson (floyd_at_barrow.com)
Date: 08/04/04 

Date: Tue, 03 Aug 2004 20:32:09 -0800

"stevewhittet" <whittet@adelphia.net> wrote:
>"Eric Stevens" <eric.stevens@sum.co.nz> wrote:
>>floyd@barrow.com (Floyd L. Davidson) wrote:
>>
>> >Eric Stevens <eric.stevens@sum.co.nz> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> http://web.newsguy.com/floyd_davidson/umiaqs/
>> >>
>> >>I like the laminated coaming strakes visible in photograph 8.
>
>Floyd has hit on a great way to ensure his posts are interesting and
>informative.

Thank you. I do make an effort at posting articles that are useful!

>> >>photograph 11 the ribs and stringers are fastened with nails or
>> >>screws. Except for the stem all of the timbers seem to be sawn.
>
>Yes. There is no sign of any of the strips being split as far as I can see
>although the wood seems to be a nice reasonably vertical grain.
>> >
>> >Screws are used, and there are few places where wood parts are
>> >lashed together. The only example I can think of are the pieces
>> >in the bow. I didn't have an pictures of that in the first
>> >batch, but I took some more today which show it.
>
>Its apparently screwed and plugged which implies plug cutters and a drill
>press.

Both of those frame are of *modern* construction, probably not
more than 10-15 years old. Of course they use plugs and take advantage
of tools like drill presses.

Actually, the Inupiat Heritage Center here in Barrow, in addition to
being a fine museum, also has a large workshop area that is used by
local crafts people for a variety of things... and working on umiaqs
is one of them.

>>>http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Inuit_Haida/inuit/fr_gallery/kayak
>1g/umiakg/umiakg.html
>> >>
>> >>illustrates the frame of an umiak molre likely to be closer to the
>> >>original.
>> >
>> >Well, it's a little hard to define just what is "the original".
>> >That boat is of a significantly different design, and probably
>> >is not from Barrow.
>
>It may be from Barrow, there is no real evidence either way except that its
>there
>I don't know if the design is modern but the construction details certainly
>are.

Make no mistake, it is *not* from Barrow. That is a Canadian
web site, and they have no need to find pictures of umiaqs made
in Barrow.

>> Probably true, but I expect Barrow does not have a monopoly on umiaks.

Eric just has to make stupid comments...

>> >It doesn't appear to have been designed for
>> >whaling, but rather for transport of people and goods. It's
>> >narrower, longer, and doesn't have a flat bottom; which appears
>> >to me to mean it would be less stable, would carry a bigger
>> >load, and would be faster.
>
>its a small boat

But it looks like a fairly large umiaq.

>> One of the recent Wooden Boat magazines has an article dealing with
>> the flat-bottomed variety and I would have cited it, if only I could
>> find the damned magazine. I cited the vessel shown in the above URL
>> simply because it seems to be made with round members rather than
>> rectangular members shaped by a saw.
>
>I'm thinking the original version might have either rectangular members
>that were split or small branches with circular cross sections that were
>bent

I doubt that prior to modern times there were many rectangular members
in either a kayaq or an umiaq.

>> >Unfortunately the *best* example of an umiaq that I know of,
>> >isn't available right now. The Inupiat Heritage Center (our
>> >local museum) has a really good example of a classic umiaq from
>> >maybe 75-100 years ago. However, when it is on display they
>> >won't allow pictures (I think that is because they don't want
>> >flashes of light hitting the exhibits, and I'm going to ask
>> >about pictures without a flash). But, worse yet, I was there
>> >early last month that it was not on display anymore. I don't
>> >know if that is temporary (it might be on tour at another museum
>> >or something, because a *huge* number of really interesting
>> >artifacts were gone).
>
>use your cell phone

What cell phone? :-)

And what good would a phone call do... 

-- 
FloydL. Davidson           <http://web.newsguy.com/floyd_davidson>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska)                         floyd@barrow.com

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Photo Essay on Barrows Wood Framed Skin Umiaqs
    ... Actually, the Inupiat Heritage Center here in Barrow, in addition to ... and they have no need to find pictures of umiaqs made ... >> rectangular members shaped by a saw. ... What cell phone? ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: Photo Essay on Barrows Wood Framed Skin Umiaqs
    ... and they have no need to find pictures of umiaqs made ... >Eric just has to make stupid comments... ... >>I'm thinking the original version might have either rectangular members ... >I doubt that prior to modern times there were many rectangular members ...
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  • Re: Photo Essay on Barrows Wood Framed Skin Umiaqs
    ... and they have no need to find pictures of umiaqs made ... >Eric just has to make stupid comments... ... >>I'm thinking the original version might have either rectangular members ... >I doubt that prior to modern times there were many rectangular members ...
    (sci.archaeology)
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