Sigh... Fig 38 in Zimmerly's book "Qajaq" is a baidarka ! Just ask a serious kayak scholar such as Eugene Arima or John Heath.

The word baidarka is a Russian word which is used to describe a skinned over small boat and was used to descibe the various native kayaks that the Russians met in their fur gathering ventures. The word baidarka was very clearly used to describe Aleut and Pacific Eskimo (Kodiak included) kayaks. Fig 38 in Zimmerly's "Qajaq" IS a baidarka as are the two and three hatch kayaks of both the Aleuts and Pacific Eskimos.

In a previous post someone related the straight keelson of figure 38 in Zimmerly's "Qajaq" , this is very likely an accurate drawing of the museum artifact but I and other replicators believe that the lack of rocker shown in the drawing is a result of sagging of the frame and am confident in saying that such a kayak would have had a noticeable amount of rocker.

The term baidarka is one I personally do not care for as it is was introduced by a foreign people who brutalized, enslaved and practiced near genocide on the Aleuts and Pacific Eskimo people. The more general word kayak prefixed by whatever region is favored by myself, such as Aleutian kayak or Kodiak kayak for example.

To call a non- skin on frame kayak built in the shape of an Aleut or Kodiak kayak ( baidarka if you must ) and call it a baidarka is another misnomer in my opinion when by definition a baidarka is a skin covered small boat.

Peace and safe paddling.

: I do question your knowledge and intent when you erroneously include fig 38
: which is not a baidarka and is in the new heading in the "Qajaq"
: book of Pacific Eskimo, Fig 24 is a two hole kayak and fig 16 is a
: baidarka I've never seen built.

: Unless you are blind or just wish to twist every point to fit your argument
: you know full well that the current baidarkas being built are very close
: to the lines of the solo baidarka pictured in fig 17 in the
: "Qajaq" book.

: The fact is no other arctic kayak design has had the speed attributed to it
: that the baidarka has. It?s a tribute to the design that a work boat
: (baidarka) be compared to the best specialized racing boats today?s
: technology can produce.

: The beauty of the fluke of history of recreational kayaking that chose the
: Greenland kayak as archetype has left the baidarka design in a undiluted
: form.

: All the best,

: Rob Macks
: Laughing Loon CC
: www.LaughingLoon.com