Canoes on Lekki Lagoon, Nigeria

Lekki Lagoon is a large freshwater body to the east of Lagos Lagoon and connected to it by a narrow channel, its only outlet. Close to Lagos...

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...