Sewn Canoes of the Society Islands

Capt. Henry Byam Martin, RN, was stationed in Tahiti in 1846-47, observing the French takeover of the island. Our most recent post looked at...

Capt. Martin's Tahitian Dugouts

While stationed in Tahiti in 1846-47, Capt. Henry Byam Martin, RN, made several sketches and paintings of local watercraft. Here are all of ...

A Double Canoe from the Tuamotu Islands

In 1846, the British Admiralty dispatched HMS Grampus , 50 guns, under command of Capt. Henry Byam Martin, RN, to the Society Islands. The F...

Paddling Light's Canoe & Kayak Plans: What Price Free?

I've been following Bryan Hansel on Twitter for some time, but just recently did I learn about his  free canoe and kayak plans . In  thi...

Japanese Boats of the Edo Period

On a recent visit to the new Harvard Art Museum, I came across two lovely 6-panel painted folding screens from Japan's Edo period (also ...

Sampan Dwellers of Tam Giang Lagoon, Vietnam

A sampan from the Hue area, probably much like those discussed here. Source: Junk Blue Book *. (Click any image to enlarge) The romanticizat...

The Baure's Linked Canoe and Road Transport System

Contemporary Baure dugout canoes on the upper Amazon in Bolivia. (Click any image to enlarge.)  Source . The Baure people live between the S...