> amazing research, makes one want to make a skin boat just for its totemic
> value. World of difference between most of us that recreate in kayaks and
> those that live from them.

A skin kayak has been on my project list for a long time. Unlike George, I don't find it mysterious that the Aleut could come up with such good designs, but I think we can all be impressed with how good designs they are.

The forces involved in surviving the waters of the arctic neccessitate a very good design, so to me it is no mystery that they created a good design. The track the Aleut led to the kayak. If they had followed a different path, I'm sure whatever else they came up with would have been equally as impressive. It would have to be, inorder to survive the environment.