tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466695305125791022.post1770343291028021956..comments2024-03-13T08:16:23.560-07:00Comments on Indigenous Boats: The Mtepes of KenyaBob Holtzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878339327766256094noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466695305125791022.post-48741806013769690242013-10-21T04:50:16.193-07:002013-10-21T04:50:16.193-07:00You may email me at bob@yournameherecom.com (note ...You may email me at bob@yournameherecom.com (note the two "com"s, one before, one after the dot).Bob Holtzmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05878339327766256094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466695305125791022.post-65254000292721955262013-10-21T02:18:22.591-07:002013-10-21T02:18:22.591-07:00Bob,
I want to send you an emailed article without...Bob,<br />I want to send you an emailed article without joining Facebook. Can I do so?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466695305125791022.post-41963187473449682912012-09-13T14:44:41.195-07:002012-09-13T14:44:41.195-07:00My ignorance of rigging, already probably obvious ...My ignorance of rigging, already probably obvious to some readers, is going to show up again. I'm going to assume thhatt what Wade calls the bowline is the same as what Doryman calls the fore-guy -- i.e., the lines from the leech/luff/vertical edges of the sail that lead forward to the bowsprit or stemhead. If my assumption is correct, then that line would certainly seem to be critical to the boat's pointing ability. About the angle of the bowsprit I can't say. It's interesting that on the mtepe model at the Kensington Science museum, the stemhead terminal is so high that the bowline that leads to it is horizontal, while on the second and third photos, of dau al mtepes, the bowsprit doesn't rise nearly that high.Bob Holtzmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05878339327766256094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466695305125791022.post-73367265430575569532012-09-13T13:15:21.242-07:002012-09-13T13:15:21.242-07:00Would the somewhat raked bowsprit (good angle for ...Would the somewhat raked bowsprit (good angle for bowlines) and the apparent bowlines be key to windward performance? Wade Tarziahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02876387351164907807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466695305125791022.post-10610175428738694852012-09-12T14:42:29.155-07:002012-09-12T14:42:29.155-07:00Makes sense. Thanks D'man.Makes sense. Thanks D'man.Bob Holtzmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05878339327766256094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466695305125791022.post-20189771097892227752012-09-12T11:37:04.722-07:002012-09-12T11:37:04.722-07:00Bob,
I can see how the sailing rig as described co...Bob,<br />I can see how the sailing rig as described could be made to perform to windward efficiently. The "lift braces" would serve as downhauls in reverse. By lifting the windward end of the yard and hauling on the fore-guy (as shown, it looks like there are two), at the same time slacking the leeward lift-brace, the sail could be trimmed more along the fore and aft axis of the boat. This method would keep the decks clear of tackle run from the head of the sail to somewhere on deck where it would likely be a hazard. Without the lift-braces and fore-guys, hauling on the clew alone would not trim the top of the sail in enough for the boat to point to windward.dorymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16077373149267825091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466695305125791022.post-40710393753410016562012-09-07T22:11:55.055-07:002012-09-07T22:11:55.055-07:00There were at least six of these "Baurua"...There were at least six of these "Baurua" of this size or larger in Kiribati during the 1930's, but the arrival of WWII put an end to the building and sailing.Gary.Dierkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03075364076488992033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466695305125791022.post-4691314851957256412012-09-07T16:44:29.533-07:002012-09-07T16:44:29.533-07:00Gary - Thanks for this link. I wasn't familiar...Gary - Thanks for this link. I wasn't familiar with Taratai, but she looks lovely in the video and I'll read up on her -- maybe do a post on the subject if I find enough to write about.<br /><br />When I referred to the mtepe as "the world's last sewn vessel," I meant the last one sailing as a *type* -- in regular traditional use. I didn't mean to imply that there were no replicas or rare individual survivals. There was also Tim Severin's sewn dhow Sohar, which I wrote about here: http://www.indigenousboats.blogspot.com/2012/04/planking-dhow-with-sewn-fastenings.html.Bob Holtzmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05878339327766256094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466695305125791022.post-87444184808530555102012-09-07T16:23:35.486-07:002012-09-07T16:23:35.486-07:00What about Taratai? 75' hull, all sewn planks...What about Taratai? 75' hull, all sewn planks, built in 1976, did a lot of sea miles.<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWaQckIRy2U<br />The book is available at Amazon and the Taratai still exists today in the Auckland maritime museum.Gary.Dierkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03075364076488992033noreply@blogger.com