Check out this older style East Greenlandic kayak replica I borrowed from Harvey Golden for an upcoming video project.
As far as we know the Lc.148 is the only surviving example of the pre-contact type of East Greenlandic kayak. It is listed as being first collected in 1842 in south Greenland roughly 40 years before Europeans first visited the Ammassalik region where it likely came from.
It is believed to be east Greenlandic because it has construction details that are consistent with later type East Greenland kayaks that were never seen on West Greenland Kayaks. It has a unique toggle system for tightening the deck lines, full length floorboards, and the ribs are pegged to the stringers in the typical East Greenlandic fashion.
Despite being quite flat this beautiful kayak carries considerable volume. Unfortunately I have never paddled it because I don’t fit into it, but my friend Greg who built a replica of this kayak in Tasmania describes the performance like this:.
“I think I managed to get the hull pretty close to the survey. I found it to be comfortable, stable, well balanced and manoeuvrable. Tracking was loose but easily corrected and I really love its elegant lines. I could get it to weathercock and leecock by leaning forward and back. Rolled easily too. I raised the front of the cockpit rim( and size) and foredeck so I could fit but other than that I kept to the original dimensions. It was really skittish so I’ve put a hard skeg on it.”
This is kayak number 82 in Harvey Golden’s book Kayaks of Greenland where he has included a gunwale shape survey for those who are interested in rebuilding this kayak. I wish I had time to build one for myself. Thanks to Harvey for the loan.
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