Inuit Boats: Traditional Watercraft Of A Tribe

The Inuit, a tribe native to the Arctic Circle, have historically used two main types of boats: the kayak and the umiak. The kayak, or qajaq, which translates to skin boat, is a small, lightweight boat made of stitched, greased sealskin stretched over a wooden frame. The umiak, on the other hand, is an open skin boat traditionally used in the summer for transporting people and possessions, as well as hunting whales and walruses.

The kayak: a 'skin boat' used for hunting and fishing

The kayak: a skin boat used for hunting and fishing

The kayak, or qajaq, is an Arctic skin boat used by the Inuit people for hunting and fishing. The name qajaq is derived from the Inuktitut word for "skin boat". The kayak is made of stitched, greased sealskin stretched over a frame of driftwood, whalebone, or other materials such as ivory, animal bones, or caribou antlers. The seams of the boat are coated with oil, usually from seals, to make them waterproof. Each kayak is unique, tailored to its owner to provide maximum manoeuvrability. They are long, narrow, and low in shape, making them lightweight, speedy, and highly manoeuvrable—perfect for navigating the icy waters of the Far North.

The kayak's lightweight design also makes it portable, with a single man able to carry it on his head across the ice or overland, allowing him to reach open water or travel from fjord to fjord with ease. When not in use, kayaks are stored upside down on high racks in the village to prevent dogs from eating the skin covers.

Inuit hunters used their kayaks to pursue sea mammals, waterfowl, and caribou. The boats are quiet in use, allowing hunters to approach their prey undetected. Hunters would propel their kayaks with double-bladed paddles, sometimes wearing watertight jackets fastened to the rim of the opening in which they sat. Their weapons, including the essential harpoon and lance, were fastened to the deck with thongs.

While the use of kayaks has declined in most Inuit communities, replaced by power craft, they remain an important symbol of Greenland's cultural heritage. In recent years, there has been a revival of traditional kayaking in Greenland, with the establishment of specialised kayak clubs and international championships.

The umiak: a larger boat used for transporting people and possessions

The umiak, also known as the woman's boat, is a larger boat used by the Inuit for transporting people and possessions. It is an open boat, either round or elongated in shape, and is traditionally made from seal or other animal skins stretched over a driftwood or whalebone frame. The skins are sewn together and coated with oil, usually from seals, to create a waterproof barrier. A large umiak can be up to 9.1 metres (30 feet) long and require about seven skins to cover its frame.

The umiak is significantly larger than the kayak, which is a smaller, enclosed boat built for one or two men during hunting trips. The umiak can carry up to 15 passengers and is propelled by oars or paddles, although sails made from seal intestines were sometimes used as well. In the 20th century, outboard motors were added to the umiak, and it was eventually replaced by conventional motorboats.

The umiak was used during the summer months to transport people and their possessions to seasonal hunting grounds and for hunting whales and walruses. Its light weight and lack of a keel allowed it to be easily carried over drift ice or shore ice to open water. The usage of the umiak has declined in most Arctic areas, but it remains an important part of life in the whaling villages of Alaska, where it is used to catch whales.

The construction of the umiak involves stretching animal skins over a wooden frame, which is made from driftwood or whalebone pegged and lashed together with materials such as antlers or ivory. The process of replacing the skin on an umiak is done when the ice moves away from the shores of the Arctic Ocean, usually in July. Whaling crews hunt for bearded seals to obtain suitable skins, which are then packed in seal oil and allowed to ferment until March. The skins are then scraped, sewn together, and stretched over the wooden frame, where they are tied into place using caribou sinew.

The umiak played a crucial role in the transportation and hunting activities of the Inuit people, particularly in the summer months when they travelled to their seasonal hunting grounds. Its spacious design and sturdy construction made it a reliable vessel for carrying larger groups of people and their belongings across the waters of the Arctic Circle.

Construction: made from seal or animal skin stretched over a wooden frame

The Inuit had two main types of boats: the kayak and the umiak. Both were constructed from seal or animal skin stretched over a wooden frame.

The kayak, or qajaq, which translates from Inuktitut as "skin boat", was used by the Inuit for transport, hunting and fishing. The kayak was constructed from stitched greased sealskin stretched over a driftwood frame, assembled using wooden pegs and bound with leather ties. The kayak was so light that a man could carry it on his head without much effort. When not in use, the kayaks were stored upside down on high racks to prevent dogs from eating the skin covers.

The umiak, on the other hand, was an open boat, either round or elongated in shape. It was made of seal or other animal skins stretched over a driftwood or whalebone frame. The wooden frame was constructed using pegs and lashings, sometimes made from ivory or antlers. Oil, usually from seals, was used to coat and waterproof the seams. A large umiak, 9.1 m (30 ft) long, would require about seven skins to be sewn together, stretched over the frame and allowed to dry.

The construction of these boats, using seal or animal skin stretched over a wooden frame, allowed the Inuit to navigate the icy waters of the Arctic with speed, agility and protection from the elements.

Propulsion: oars, paddles, sails or outboard motors

The Inuit used two main types of boats: the kayak and the umiak.

Propulsion of Kayaks

The kayak was propelled by a double-bladed paddle. These paddles were made of wood, with the Greenland paddle producing lift and having the profile of an aeroplane wing.

Propulsion of Umiaks

The umiak was traditionally propelled by oars (used by women) or paddles (used by men). Sails, sometimes made from seal intestines, were also used, and in the 20th century, outboard motors.

Usage: kayaks were used by men, while umiaks were used by women

The Inuit people used kayaks and umiaks for hunting and transportation. The kayak, or "man's boat"/"hunter's boat", was used by men for hunting on the water. The umiak, or "woman's boat", was used by women and children for transportation in the summer, moving people and possessions to seasonal hunting grounds.

The kayak was designed for hunting on frozen seas and inlets. The Inuit used them to hunt whales and seals. The boats were custom-made, with each kayaker designing and building their own. The kayak was built to meet the paddler's exact specifications, with the length of the boat being three times the height of the kayaker with their arms outstretched. The cockpit was built to be as wide as the kayaker's hips, plus two additional fist lengths at most.

The kayak was lightweight and fast, and each was custom-made from sea lion, walrus, reindeer, or seal skin, driftwood and whale bone, and lashed with strips of flexible caribou sinew. Builders applied thick layers of animal fat to waterproof their boats. In some cases, they inflated seal bladders and attached them for added buoyancy.

The umiak, on the other hand, was a large open skin boat, capable of carrying large loads. They could carry up to 15 passengers and were light enough to be carried over ice or land by about six people. The umiak was traditionally used to move people and possessions to seasonal hunting grounds, and for hunting whales and walrus. The umiak was usually propelled by oars (rowed by women) or paddles (manned by men), although sails, made from seal intestines, were also used.

The traditional umiak was made from a driftwood or whalebone frame pegged and lashed together, sometimes with antlers or ivory. Walrus or bearded seal skins were stretched over the frame, and oil, usually from seals, would be used to coat and waterproof the seams. A large umiak, 9.1m (30ft) long, would require about seven skins to be sewn together.

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