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Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
By:Mike Savage
Date: 1/24/2008, 9:12 pm
In Response To: Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ? (dave)

: I apologize, my comment about the chewing of seal skins should not have been
: included. Sometimes I get carried away.

: My point was that if I had to depend on my kayak to survive, efficiency in
: everything would drive the design, maybe a little concern about looks but
: not much, food on the table beats trying to look good.

: Arrgh, I should go back to lurking, less stressful that way...

Hi Dave,
The seal skin chewing was for softening the hide for clothing or other items that needed to be flexible. Kayak skins were scraped thin and smooth, as far as I know. The same was done along the west coast here in Ireland when currachs were leather covered.

If a design is efficient for a few years or generations, good appearance starts occurring within the design parameters. Just look at trucks and cars. And bikes. :) In some cultures, it was a religious thing, in others it was boasting of prowess. For the Northern people, it may have been something to do over winter to keep the hunting tools familiar to the hand.

Mike Savage
South West Cork

Messages In This Thread

Other: What's the point of greenland kayaks ?
Skiffrace -- 1/20/2008, 11:45 am
Re: Other: What's the point of greenland kayaks ?
Bryan Hansel -- 1/25/2008, 9:49 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of greenland kayaks ? *LINK* *Pic*
Aaron H -- 1/24/2008, 11:42 am
Re: Other: What's the point of greenland kayaks ?
Tom Simpson -- 1/24/2008, 9:20 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
Kris Buttermore -- 1/24/2008, 11:28 am
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 1/24/2008, 1:31 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
Toni V -- 1/24/2008, 5:54 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
dave -- 1/24/2008, 7:28 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
Bill Hamm -- 1/27/2008, 2:05 am
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
Paul G. Jacobson -- 1/24/2008, 7:43 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
dave -- 1/24/2008, 7:06 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
Mike Savage -- 1/24/2008, 9:12 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
dave -- 1/24/2008, 6:50 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
Kris Buttermore -- 1/24/2008, 4:06 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 1/25/2008, 3:47 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
Rob Macks / Laughing Loon CC&K -- 1/24/2008, 6:38 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
John D. -- 1/25/2008, 12:18 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
Rob Macks / Laughing Loon CC&K -- 1/25/2008, 12:53 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
Toni V -- 1/25/2008, 4:39 am
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ? *Pic*
Aaron H -- 1/24/2008, 9:29 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
Harvey Golden -- 1/26/2008, 12:15 am
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
Rob Macks / Laughing Loon CC&K -- 1/24/2008, 10:19 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
Dave Isbell -- 1/25/2008, 9:44 am
Re: Other: What's the point of Greenland kayaks ?
Aaron H -- 1/25/2008, 12:10 am
What's the point of greenland kayaks ?
Jay Babina -- 1/24/2008, 8:11 am
Re: Other: What's the point of greenland kayaks ?
Björn Thomasson -- 1/24/2008, 3:53 am
Re: Other: What's the point of greenland kayaks ?
Duane Strosaker -- 1/23/2008, 11:11 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of greenland kayaks ?
Dave Houser -- 1/23/2008, 10:18 pm
Re: Other: What's the point of greenland kayaks ?
skiffrace -- 1/24/2008, 9:22 am
Re: Other: What's the point of greenland kayaks ?
Dave Isbell -- 1/24/2008, 11:00 am
Pointy Ends Have a Nice Appearance
John Van Buren -- 1/24/2008, 8:17 am