Aleut bidara (a skin covered boat) design plan, Alaska Peninsula, Alaska, in engraving made 1807

• Main Author: Langsdorff, G. H. von (Georg Heinrich), 1774-1852
• Other Authors: University of Washington Libraries
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Engravings; Aleuts > Arts & crafts; Aleuts > Transportation; Skin boats > Alaska; The Ribs; aleut; Alaska
• Online Access: http://cdm16786.contentdm.oclc.org:80/cdm/ref/collection/loc/id/2247; http://content.lib.washington.edu/cgi-bin/htmlview.exe?CISOROOT=/loc&CISOPTR=2247

Photograph of engraving showing the top, side & end views of the wooden frame of a multi-seat, skin covered boat Note from unidentified source: a) the keel b) the rear piece, which is fastened together with the keel c) the board, which rests on the keel d) cross laths which lie on the keel e) poles, which lie at the ends of the cross laths f) the ribs, over which the stretched skin is pulled, and which are fastened to the lower cross laths g) the upper edge laths, which are fastened to the streched skin h) laths on the inner portion of the sides, on which the benches lie I) the sitting benches k) thong twined together, which are placed in 3 or 4 places under the benches, so that the baidar cannot break asunder in the waves. No rails are used the fastening, instead the pieces are made fast with baleen or sinew. The entire skeleton, or framework, is finally covered with sewn together seal pelts m) the steering paddle. Image from G. H. von Langsdorff's Bemerkungen auf einer Reise um die Welt in den Jahren 1803 bis 1807, 1812. V.2, pl.12