Canoes of the Gilbert Islands

The outrigger canoes of the Gilbert Islands show a top-strake that does not extend to the ends of the hull, according to a German publication, the rising ends of the dugout hull covering the ends. The lashing looks like the Maori style. The booms are straight, and attached by means of short pieces to the float. The three booms are all grouped near the middle of the float. With regard to the outrigger canoe of Nauru, or Pleasant Island, the same remarks may be applied to booms and float.

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A model canoe from the Gilbert Group is 3 ft. 3 in. in. length. It is a sailing-canoe provided with an outrigger, and apparently made to sail both ways, the two ends beings equally pointed. The keel is remarkably sharp, and composed of three pieces, the two end pieces carrying the curvature of the two ends up to the level of the sides; thus the ends of the top boards are butted against the upward sweeping ends of the two haumi. Two strakes, each composed of three pieces, compose the upper sides. These planks are fitted carvel fashion, and secured to each other and to the keel by means of lashings passed through holes bored near the edges, as practised by the Maori, except that no covering battens are employed. All these lashings are countersunk on the outer side, except those which secure the two haumi to the main part of the keel. A remarkable feature is noted in nine pairs of ribs carefully fitted inside the hold, and to which the side boards are secured by lashings passed through holes bored in the planks. The hold is partly decked over on a level with the gunwale, and accommodation for paddlers seems to be lacking. Eleven cross-pieces let into the top-strake support the half-deck and act as braces, nine of them being immediately over the nine sets of ribs.

Three booms connect the outrigger with the canoe, the inner ends of the boom being carried across the canoe and acting as three of the braces and deck supports. Five longitudinal spars connect the booms with each other. The float is a solid-hewn balk pointed at both ends, and connected with the booms by means of short wooden prongs of Y form, the shanks of which are apparently inserted in the float, to which they are also attached by means of lashings passed right round the float. The two prongs of each Y are in alignment with the booms, which are lashed to both. Narrow strips of some leaf are inserted in all plank-joinings.

The mast is stepped in a wooden bucket or socket lashed to the deck amidships; its other supports consisting of a wooden strut, the floor of which is secured to the middle boom, also fore and aft stays, and three braces, two of which are secured to the outrigger. The sail is triangular, secured to sprit and boom, apex downward. It was apparently rigged as a lateen sail.

Two model paddles are made in two pieces, the blade being lashed to the handle.