History of Canoeing

Canoes were developed in several cultures simultaneously. The history of canoeing must explore the exploits of native North Americans and inhabitants of the Amazon river basin, Africa and Polynesia. The boats of these cultures were similar in function and shape, but differed in materials.

Native North Americans made canoes from birch bark. They would first build a canoe shaped frame, and stretch fresh bark over it. As the bark dried, it hardened and shrank around the frame. The resulting boats were strong, light and versatile. Later birch bark was replaced by canvas, but the basic design remained the same.

The natives of what is now Brazil hollowed out large trees to make dugout canoes. They usually used a combination of fire and stone adzes to create an indentation in the wood. The Inuit people of what is now Alaska used a similar technique. Finished dugout canoes looked similar to modern canoes, and did not look like simply a log with a notch in the top.

Early in the history of canoeing, the indigenous peoples of the Pacific island archipelago used dugout canoes to travel the ocean. They lashed two canoes together, and the intervening space would feature a platform. They sailed these early catamarans across the largest ocean in the world, using navigation methods far more advance than anything in their time. The double hull of these canoes was able to venture up shallow streams without hitting bottom, but was also stable when out on open ocean. Unlike small modern canoes, these were up to 60 feet long and could house entire families.

Today, most canoes are made of aluminum or fiberglass. There are a few companies that construct traditional birch bark or wooden canoes, but these are not as practical as modern materials. Modern canoes are often used in competition or for recreation. It's rare to see a long distance voyage attempted in a canoe today.