The Craft of Kayak Building

Nick Tanape Sr. Carving the Prow of a Kayak Courtesy of Gregor Welpton Pratt Museum Photo Archives 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

People took a year or two to gather stuff for their kayak They were always looking ahead to find the certain piece of driftwood. They had time.
-Nick Tanape, Sr.

To meet their needs, sea mammal hunters traveled some of the most treacherous waters in a boat of skin. The hunter became part sea - enveloped at ocean level.

Kayaks flexed in the waves. Many joints were moveable knuckles that bent or twisted with sea swells. Frames were bound with strong yet supple lashings of rawhide, spruce root, or sinew. Seal blood was used to stain the frame, plug porous wood, and insure good hunting. The seal skin covering was stretched wet with room to spare so that as it dried and shrank, it wouldn't crush the frame.