KORYAK KAYAK replica
The original was collected ca. 1910 by Waldemar Jochelsen, and is now in the American Museum of Natural History.
Richard Nonas and I surveyed the original in 2003, but John Heath has also surveyed this kayak and his drawing appears
in the book "Eastern Arctic Kayaks" (2004:6, fig.1.1). The kayak measures 9'2-1/2" long, 29-5/16" wide, and 6-7/8" depth-to-sheer.
The ribs of this kayak consist of straight planks let into the lower edge of the gunwales,
and are mortise and tenoned into the keelson. The hull's cross-section is a shallow V.
The completed frame, sans coaming, weighs 13#
Cockpit view of the Koryak kayak showing the two leashed hand-paddles,
each with bone edging.
Two very different answers to the same question: How to catch sea mammals?
On the right is the replica of the 1830s Baffin Island kayak; Its paddle is 27"
longer than the Koryak kayak.
Launch Day:3-17-05
I tried the Koryak kayak replica out with a double-blade paddle as well as the
hand-paddles. The kayak was a bit too responsive with the double, and drips
quickly soaked my pants. The hand-paddles actually worked much better
than I had anticipated-- they are ergonomic, fast, and dripless. Unlike with a
double-blade or two-handed single, with the hand-paddles I could rudder
on one side while still paddling on the other. The replica was very comfortable
and very stable; quite the unique experience-- it rather strikes me as being
a 'high-performance coracle' of sorts.
Above and below: Two views from an elevated position, Whidbey Island, March 2007.
