Editor’s Corner Vol. 2, No. 1 • Winter 2004 Bobby Curtis In this Issue Page 2 While the US economy has been propelled forward by a housing boom, it appears that QAJAQ USA is being propelled forward by a kayak building Self-Built Traditional and rolling boom. Many kayak builders are creating their own boats along Style Boats the lines of the traditional craft that have been the mainstay through centuries past. Others have been experimenting more with original ideas, and yet Page 3 remain connected to the design of those traditional craft. It’s refreshing to Events Calendar see the members becoming more enlightened in the traditional culture of our Greenlandic friends. More and more I come upon the use of Greenlandic terms on the QAJAQ USA forums and in the articles submitted to THE MASIK. Page 5 Even all those capsize maneuvers performed at the Greenland Kayaking Qajaq Talk Championships are being learned and performed by a growing paddling population here in the USA. Rolling skills are also being experimented with as Page 6 evidenced by the article in this issue “Sea Pup SOF Kid on maneuvers that are not on “The List”. I am also delighted to find a MISSION Kayaks” number of children are becoming Qajaq USA is a non-profit interested in building their own kayaks membership organization that is Page 9 officially recognized by and paddling them with “the skinny Qaannat (The Greenland Kayaking Designing a sticks”, as evidenced by the article Kattuffiat Association). Qajaq USA is Stitch-and-Glue on the “Sea Pups”. With a growing committed to supporting Qaannat interest in competition discussions Kattuffiat and their efforts to Qajariaq have perked up on the recently preserve, study and promote established QAJAQ USA committee on the traditions and techniques of Page 12 competition. A venue for competition Greenland kayaking while seeking “What Was That?” is already established on the West to further the appreciation and coast with (SSTIKS) South Sound development of Greenland-style Traditional Inuit Kayak Symposium, kayaking in the United States. Page 14 and on the East coast “Qaannat on Qaannat on Muhheakunnuk” had their first outing on the Hudson in 2003 (See the article in this issue). Muhheakunnuk All this burgeoning interest in the traditional ways has apparently sparked a path to a lot of enjoyment for all those who are participating. For me personally, Page 16 not only is all this experimentation is very healthy, it also is just a lot of fun. Notes from Enjoy it all. the Regions Bobby Ps I want to acknowledge Bill Price in Deary Idaho for his help in proof reading the material in the MASIK. Self-Built Traditional Style Boats A Regular MASIK Feature A publication of Qajaq USA www.qajaqusa.org QAJAQ USA OFFICERS Finding My Perfect Boat President Your perfect boat is out there too Greg Stamer By Joy McNeil [email protected] JOY AND HER PERFECT BOAT Vice President Keith Attenborough [email protected] Historical & Kayak Building Advisor Harvey Golden [email protected] Membership David Braun [email protected] [email protected] My kayaking began with a half-day shopping, a Northbay kit was ordered and PNW Regional Advisor Mike Hanks trip in the Camden, Maine area. I was arrived at my door. The Northbay was scared to death in a plastic Necky that chosen based on its beam and its style. [email protected] paddled like a barge. After an hour or We had seen a modified Northbay and Forum Administrator so of light swells, my attitude began to contacted a builder on the CLC site who Shawn Baker change. Back in Connecticut after the had modified a Northbay. He turned out [email protected] vacation was over, I found myself in to be Bill Whitcomb, a fellow ConnYaker Collinsville, buying a Kevlar Tchaika. I and the owner of one of the boats I had Advisor, Greenland Liaison liked the Tchaika because of the size and liked one recent club paddle. A phone call Pavia Lumholt fit. After some time, I decided that I later, we were on our way to his house [email protected] wanted a longer boat. I did some research to get ideas for lowering the volume and Newsletter Editor on line and discovered that there were not size. Shortly thereafter, I again ran into Bobby Curtis many boats on the market with a narrow Bill at a ConnYak pool session. He got [email protected] beam and smaller cockpit, which was me into his boat and I immediately tipped what I was looking for, given my 5’ 7” over! Amazingly, I also immediately Events frame and 135lb size. I finally found what came back up. The thing seemed to roll Robin Snow seemed to be a good boat, an Anas Acuta. itself. He also taught me to balance brace [email protected] At this point, I really didn’t know much it in about 5 seconds. This was a kind of Archivist, Historical Advisor, about Greenland style boats or paddling, I revelation and I got excited about building Journal Editor was just looking for a tighter fit. After a my modified Northbay. Vernon Doucette short test paddle in Rhode Island, the boat The kit went together very easily, [email protected] was mine. including modifications recommended by [email protected] My husband and I had now begun Bill. Finished, it was 18’ 6” long with a paddling with ConnYak and we began beam of about 19”. I also modified the Graphic Designer seeing handmade strippers, S & G’s and cockpit to match that of my Anas Acuta, Tamara Hanks skin boats. We also took a Greenland as I liked the size and I could use the [email protected] paddle making class at Mystic Seaport and same spray skirt. I now had myself a began favoring the Greenland style boats. tight fitting, rolling machine! The only Seeing so many handmade boats around, problem was that it weather-cocked, so we decided to consider making one it became my play boat and I continued ourselves. Because we had no experience paddling the Anas. in boat building, we decided to go with a Later that summer, I got a call from kit. As Christmas was upon us and with a friend that I needed to go to Gloucester my husband deciding that giving me a to buy a boat. He had found a Betsie Bay kit for Christmas would get him out of Valkyrie that he insisted I had to buy. 2 Winter 2004: Volume 2, Number 1 The MASIK: a quarterly newsletter of Qajaq USA Web Site: http://www.qajaqusa.org/ Forums Page: http://www.qajaqusa.org/forums.shtml 3 As my husband had recently purchased a three boats. Recluse which he loved, we took the next Although the spring weather was EVENTS day off and went up to see the boat. It was horrible, I was able to finish it for the in great condition and the purchase was Meet at the Beach***. I was pretty CALENDAR made. This turned out to be a great boat. nervous as I got in to paddle it for the I loved the Greenland look and it paddled first time. A few rolls later, I was really SSTIKS 2004 great. However, it didn’t roll as well as happy. Paddling across the bay with a South South Traditional Inuit my Northbay and it was still not the fit quartering wind, I got even happier: no Kayak Symposium that I was looking for, with its 21” beam. weather cocking! This was it, my perfect “A weekend educational and cultural So I now had three boats, none of which boat. I’ve now used it for a season and experience featuring the top US was my perfect boat. my opinion of it stands. It is still my Greenland-style paddlers”. Fall arrived, and my husband decided perfect boat. The Northbay and Anus Qajaq USA Event to try building a strip Greenland deck Acuta now have happy homes with new Night Heron. Since he was going to owners, but I’ve kept the Valkyrie for When: June 11-13, 2004 be busy, I decided that I would build winter paddling with my dry suit. The Where: Twanoh State Park my perfect boat, based on my favorite relief zipper is a little uncomfortable in Belfair, Washington characteristics of my three boats. I the tighter fit of my own kayak. This Contact: Mike Hanks wanted the length and cockpit of the winter I’ve been using it at the pool E-mail: [email protected] Anas Acuta, the paddling characteristics sessions and my rolling ability has Web: www.qajaqpnw.org of the Valkyrie, and finally, the rolling increased. I credit much of this to my and volume/fit of my Northbay. I kayak. I actually pulled off a couple of began by purchasing some inexpensive elbow rolls with the directed assistance luan plywood and creating a roughly of Cheri Perry. DELMARVA RETREAT 2004 shaped bottom. After attempting many Having been bitten by the building adjustments, I threw out the first bottom bug, I now have a new project. I’m This is one of the first all-Greenland (good thing it was luan) as it didn’t come building an Outer Island. I spoke to events in the United States and the best together quite right. I re-cut the bottom Jay Babina about this project, as I’m known event of its type. This event is also known for bringing in guest panels and modified them slightly, since downsizing it by 10% and modifying instructors from Greenland.