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Showing posts from January, 2018

Canoe

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Papa Noel built a custom ("kastom" or traditional) canoe.  Traditional canoes in Vanuatu are dugout canoes.  Wood used varies, but Noel used whitewood.  Breadfruit tree wood is also used.  Vanuatu has so many islands with so many individual cultures, I'm sure dozens of other kinds of woods are used too.  Noel made this one entirely with hand tools. A simple handmade paddle is used.  The outrigger is also whitewood.  The blue stuff on the canoe is a glue of some kind, added to seal up any cracks or holes.  Noel might paint it, which would considerably extend its life, but paint is expensive. Nailed along the top edges of the canoe is a 3-4" tall by maybe 1/2" wide piece of thin wood.  This is a different wood, called burao.  Notice how thin it is and how many nails are in it (latter photos).  I am amazed it doesn't split.  But that's why they use it. I tried canoeing and found it harder to steer than US style canoes.  I think the outrigger was throw