2.0 ORIGINS OF THE OUTRIGGER CANOE
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2.1 How did the dug out canoe and outrigger framework originate?
2.2 Who were the designers of the outrigger canoe?
2.3 When did the inclusion of outriggers take place?
2.4 Why aren't two outriggers better than one?
2.5 Why doesn't the canoe tip over frequently with only one outrigger?
2.6 How are the spars (iako) attached to the canoe?
2.7 Is rubber used for canoe lashing?
2.1 How did dug out canoes and outrigger framework originate?
No actual evidence of how the development of the outrigger concept exists. What we know seems based on the pretext that the most logical and therefore less intellectually challenging solutions manifested first, followed later by the more advanced concepts.
The log formed the basis of the earliest water craft. With the development of tools, notably the adze (a timber shafted tool with axe like head fashioned from clam shell or sharpened rock) logs were subsequently dug-out. Some cultures, such as the American Northwest Indians, combined this with the use of fire to hollow the log out.
Earliest evidence of this maritime development can be traced back to Papua New Guinea, however within Africa this practice was also widely practiced amongst ocean and river peoples. Hollowed out, the log thus became a canoe which provided protection from the elements and provision for storage. However it had limited stability in rough and choppy waters and a series of experiments were initiated to improve this.
It is assumed that the lashing of two canoes together, using separate timber crossbeams would have been the initial method adopted to create a raft like construction or double hulled canoe, which went on to be pioneered and reach a zenith in the hands of the Polynesians and their voyaging canoes.
The conception of an outrigger as a means of increasing stability is an advanced maritime architectural concept and it is supposed that the creation of the double outrigger canoe (an outrigger attachment rigged out on both sides of a single canoe) was the next stage in this development.
Because of its advanced concept, the last of the methodologies used it is concluded, was the development of the single outrigger, the popular paddle craft used extensively for outrigger canoe racing.
2.2 Who were the designers of the outrigger canoe?
The outrigger canoe is present in parts of the Indian Ocean including, East Africa, Comoro Islands the Maldives and parts of India which are substantially older cultures than that of Oceania and so some would speculate that the outrigger canoe may have its origins in this region.
However many believe that the outrigger canoe in whatever form it first appeared, originated in the region of Indonesia, spreading outwards with the migration of these people across into Samoa, (the birthplace of Polynesian culture) and also to Micronesia and Melanesia.
This conclusion seems drawn on the basis that it is from within these cultures that the outrigger canoe was used in such huge numbers and from where we have the greatest variance of design concepts. All seafaring cultures of Oceania can be described as being a canoe culture, intrinsically linked by similarity of language and the construction and reliance on the outrigger canoe in its many and varied forms, be they paddled or sailed.
2.3 When did the inclusion of outriggers take place?
Putting a date to the development of the outrigger framework is extremely difficult. The use of natural materials such as timber and other plant material, has left little or no archaeological evidence having long since perished. In addition to this the cultures involved had no written language. Oral history and legend provides one of the best means of gauging a time and to some extent cave drawings, or Petroglyphs which exist in some island regions and in particular, Hawai'i.
At the risk of being grossly inaccurate, it appears that the concept is at the very least 3000 years old, this being approximately the time at which the early Polynesians departed Samoa in voyaging canoes to colonize the Pacific Islands, known today as the Polynesian triangle.
2.4 Why aren't two outriggers better than one?
Limitations with the double outrigger existed in that in deep rough water the primary hull became suspended between two large swells with the outer floats (ama) in contact with the swell peaks at either side. Thus the single outrigger overcame this problem ensuring that the primary hull always remained in contact with the water. The single outrigger canoe was therefore better able to cope with larger wave and swell action, given the natural materials available to the designers.
2.5 Why doesn't the canoe capsize with only one outrigger?
The secret is in the flexibility of the outrigger assembly, inherent within the spars (iako) and the lashing material attached to the primary hull. Constructed of timber the spars (iako) have a natural degree of inherent flex, so as the outer float (ama) travels up and down over swell and chop. The movement is absorbed along the length of the spars (iako) back to the canoe, much like shock absorbers on a car.
As a secondary measure the lashing used to attach the spar (iako) to canoe, should also have a degree of flex and stretch, so that in the event of the spar (iako) reaching its maximum flex the lashing material can then give to some degree to further absorb the movement. Within this lies some important laws of physics which must be acknowledged as truly advanced thinking on the part of its designers.
2.6 How are the spars (i`ako) attached to the canoe?
One of the many skills learnt by the early maritime pioneers of Oceania, was the skill of manufacturing cordage from plant fibres called sennet and with it the skill of lashing timbers together. This then became the method for attaching the spars (iako) to the canoe across strong thwarts.
Many different types of lashing styles and techniques were used, but the fundamental aim was to ensure the safety of the canoe itself so as the lashing would break before the canoe, which was a quality inherent to the sennet used. If the lashing did break, it would not unravel itself, achieved by intricate woven lashing techniques, whereby the cordage was cinched over itself many times. This remains the method used today.
2.7 Is rubber used for canoe lashing?
Yes and an excellent material it is - albeit, untraditional. Rubber inner tube usually from light truck tyres are used (around 2mm thickness). The natural flex and recoil of rubber inner tube is mechanically excellent for the purpose of allowing some degree of give at the point where the spar is attached to the canoe.
There are problems for long term use as rubber perishes quickly in strong sunlight and it can unravel quickly once broken due to its elasticity. For speed of rigging, rubber is excellent, but must be replaced frequently as it perishes quickly.