East Greenland Kayak
This is a replica of the Museon's East Greenland kayak 59876 collected in 1970 by Dr. Gert Nooter. The original's builder was Henrik Singhertek of Tiniteqilaaq. The kayak is relatively short for the type at 15'7-3/8" long, and is 19-1/2" inches wide. The original had protective sheet metal tacked around the bow to protect the kayak's skin in icy seas. Usually bone or ivory would be used for rub strips along the chines and keelson on this kayak type, but Singhertek used aluminum strips and hardwoods.
Andrew Doornink in the 59876 replica, Hood Canal, 2016.
East Greenland kayaks have very flared (leaned-out at the upper edge) gunwales, and this flare makes the boat curve upwards dramatically at the ends. But as these kayaks are rather flat and low-ended, the frame needs to be bent to the proper shape: I suspended about forty pounds from the frame to achieve the desired sheer. The keelson's end joints hold this sprung shape in place-- rather like the string on a bow.
Close-up of the kayak's metal clad bow, fashioned from aluminum flashing.
