Baidarka frames were stained with red ochre, not as a protective coating, but (or so we have been led to believe) to give it the color of blood and to give life to the qajaq. They also carved a spirit line from one end of each gunwale to the other to let the life flow through the qajaq. I stained my baidarka frame by mixing a dried powder pigment into tung oil and carved the spirit lines. I am not superstitious, but why take a chance!

: I think Wolfgang Brinck stains his baidarka frames (or maybe he just did it
: for the baidarka building pages his website?) but it doesn't seem to serve
: any purpose other than continuing an Aleut tradition. Makes the bare
: frames look pretty neat, though.