WALAP canoe

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shipstamps
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WALAP canoe

Post by shipstamps » Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:31 pm



The two stamps issued by the Marshall Islands issued in 1993 gives two canoes of the WALAP type used by the people of Enewetak $1 and Jaluit $2 islands.

You could find the WALAP in the waters of the Marshall Islands and Central Pacific; it is the generic term for a sailing canoe. Most often describes an inter-island single outrigger canoe; now extinct.
Hull built up from a dugout keel piece into an asymmetric “V”, the lee side flat and straight the weather side curved fore-and-aft and rounded vertically. Solid end pieces sewn on, terminating in slender raked-up extensions; frequently ornamented with fan shaped pieces. Strong bottom rocker. Five or six closely spaced, light booms connected directly to the stout float; two sturdy booms near the middle of the unit helped support the lee platform. A weather platform built out over the booms; another out of the lee side raked upward; on a very large canoe (wa pap) a small house was set up on each platform. Stout mast stepped in sockets set onto the outrigger close to shrouds to the other ends of the booms. Mast raked forward but pivoted toward the opposite end when tacking, the outrigger always kept to windward. Set a triangular mat sail with apex tacked to the forward end. Sail lashed to yard and boom through holes along one edge. Crew of 3 on smaller canoes, some of the largest could carry 50 passengers.
Reported lengths 5.3 – 21.3 meter; e.g. length 6.7m, beam 0.8m, depth ca 0.9m.
Other recorded names are, “proa volant”, “prao volant”, “wa lab”.

On Marshall Islands 1993 $1 and $2 sg 509/510, scott 462 and 464.

Copied from, Aak to Zumbra, a dictionary of the World’s watercraft. The Mariners museum.

aukepalmhof
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Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: WALAP canoe

Post by aukepalmhof » Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:19 am

Marshall Islands 1997 32c sg831 and 833, scott 640a and 640b 2011 98c sg?, scott?
Marshall Islands 1994 29c sgMS551, scott578
Micronesia 1996 $3 sg528, scott253
Marshall Island 1996 32c sg?, scott?(Children playing with a Walup canoe model)
Nauru 1975 20c sg136. scott?
Marshall Islands 2006 39c sg1980, Scott?
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Voyage canoe Aluit Atoll (2).jpg (71.22 KiB) Viewed 265 times
2006 tradititinal voyage canoe at jaluit atoll (2).jpg
2006 tradititinal voyage canoe at jaluit atoll (2).jpg (68.71 KiB) Viewed 265 times
Last edited by aukepalmhof on Wed Jun 14, 2023 3:40 am, edited 2 times in total.

Anatol
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Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:13 pm

Re: WALAP canoe

Post by Anatol » Sat Feb 14, 2015 9:15 am

Of the three specific types of Marshallese canoes -- Walap, Tipnol and kor kor -- the Walap was the largest sailing canoe, measuring up to 100 feet and capable of transporting as many as 50 passengers. Powered by ails of finely-plaited matting, these impressive vessels were specially built for ocean travel. According to the strength of the wind, one or more crew members acted as the craft's ballast by standing on a raised platform built between the outrigger decking and the side of the canoe. The Walap is a superb example of the Marshallese shipbuilder's art. Historically, Walap canoes were regularly used to sail between the 1,225 islands, scattered over one million square miles, which comprise the Marshalls. Distinctive to the Atoll of Enewetak, the Walap performed admirably and reflects the revival of traditional canoe building in the Marshall Islands.
Marshall Islands 1988;25c;SG179.1996;32c;SG681.32c;55c;55c;SG701;708.1997;32c;33c;SG970;971.2001;5d; 10d;SG?
Source:http://www.slaniastamps-heindorffhus.co ... slands.htm
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Anatol
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Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:13 pm

Re.Re: WALAP canoe

Post by Anatol » Sat Feb 14, 2015 9:33 am

Walap
Marshall Islands1988;25c;SG179.1996;55c;55c;SG701;708.32c;SG681.
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Arturo
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Re: WALAP canoe

Post by Arturo » Wed Mar 25, 2015 9:17 pm

Walap (Canoe)

Marshall Islands 2003, S.G.?, Scott: 824b.
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