Fowl-hunter's canoe

[eyck]

Dear all,

Just thought I'd introduce you to a wooden boat type that is typical to the county of Blekinge, in the southern parts of Sweden. It was developed around 1900 or so and has a lapstrake, canoe-like hull. The typical lengths were 13-14 ft and beam approx. 4 ft.

The boat type is called "Hunter's canoe" with the meaning "Fowl-hunter's canoe" and were used when hunting sea-fowls. It was typically painted grey as camouflage. One of the most famous boatbuilder of these vessels were the Mårtensson brothers, who built more than 1,000 of these during the 20th century.

Here are a few pictures:

http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaktkanot

http://www.blekingemuseum.se/mapp4/batrit/jaktkanot.htm

http://www.betsanden.se/pictures/jaktkanot.jpg

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TbBetueY9k6yBcwwRfGEZQ

http://www.batritningar.se/default.aspx?Language=EN&Currency=SEK&Page=PhotosDetails&Id=3

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yoBHTxFIFzQwKVCHdSjrbA

http://www.batritningar.se/default.aspx?Language=EN&Currency=SEK&Page=BoatplansDetails&Id=5

http://www.batritningar.se/default.aspx?Language=EN&Currency=SEK&Page=BoatplansDetails&Id=86

Best wishes,
Mats (in Sweden)
http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil:Jaktkanot_04037.JPG

[JimM]

Wow! Very nice boat. Are these boats built over frames or upright by eye?

[davebrown]

lovely little things. does the jib with that spritsail help this style of hull point up? i have a skerry, which looks a bit like these (though it is flatbottomed), and it is terrible pointed up. wuold a jib help that?

[David Geiss]

Very nice looking vessels. Evokes the Delware Ducker type to my eye and some of the hunting style canoes of WP Stephens. I imagine that they are responsive little sailors.

Any evidence that the type was ever sailed with leeboards?

David

[wtarzia]

Lovely! I guess you would row it upwind going any higher than70 degrees or so? -- Wade

[WCM]

Its a really nice looking boat. There is a swedish website that tells of a particular Jaktkanot boat building school project and has some very nice photos. Some of the website photos can be viewed from the links below.

http://www.algonet.se/~kittylou/bilder/jaktkanot/Yrla7.jpg

http://www.algonet.se/~kittylou/bilder/jaktkanot/Yrla3.jpg

http://www.algonet.se/~kittylou/bilder/jaktkanot/Yrla6.jpg

http://www.algonet.se/~kittylou/bilder/jaktkanot/Yrla5.jpg

I would be interested in knowing something of a Jaktkanot's sailing/rowing qualities.

[eyck]

Dear all,

Yes, they are indeed exquisite little vessels. A few answers:


No, to my knowledge they never used leeboards. I have never seen any reference to that in any books or in any images or plans either.
Propulsion was by sail or oar. They are said to have been excellent rowers and fine sailers.
They were built up-right, either by eye or around temporary frames (but still upright).

Fine plans for sale are still available:


http://www.blekingemuseum.se/mapp4/batrit/jaktkanot.htm
http://www.batritningar.se/default.aspx?Language=EN&Currency=SEK&Page=BoatplansDetails&Id=5
http://www.batritningar.se/default.aspx?Language=EN&Currency=SEK&Page=BoatplansDetails&Id=86

Best wishes,
Mats