Canoa
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:02 pm
I am most grateful to Mr. H. A. Mussenden, Air Box 5822, Bogota, Colombia, for his information in reply to my query about the local craft shown on the 2 peso Colombian stamp of 1954, which depicts a sailing vessel off Pastelillo Fort, Cartagena. The craft is known locally as a "canoa" and it has several identifying features. There is no bowsprit, no topmasts and no gaffs. The sail plan is extremely simple— one big headsail which is completely inboard and a leg-of-mutton foresail and mainsail. There is no transom, the rudder head coming up to slightly above the top of the taffrail and attached to a long tiller.
The canoas are built from the trunks of large trees which are hollowed out by adze and fire to the depth desired; planks are then laid fore-and-aft and one above the other until a freeboard of about two metres is obtained. The craft is double-ended and, Mr. Mussenden believes, fairly fast. What kind of keel, if any, they have he is unable to say.
Ernest Argyle Sea Breezes September 1966.
Colombia SG801
The canoas are built from the trunks of large trees which are hollowed out by adze and fire to the depth desired; planks are then laid fore-and-aft and one above the other until a freeboard of about two metres is obtained. The craft is double-ended and, Mr. Mussenden believes, fairly fast. What kind of keel, if any, they have he is unable to say.
Ernest Argyle Sea Breezes September 1966.
Colombia SG801