Biography of Harvey Golden

Paddling the Replica of the Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde's 349-1-- a West Greenland
kayak from circa 1600s-1700s.

October 25th, 2004.

Its been 10 years now since I built my first kayak. As a depressed directionless college drop-out, I wanted a means to meander local waterways. So without money or skills, I overcame the latter and built a kayak from video instructions a friend's uncle let me borrow. 6 months later, I had a kayak. It was a heckuva kayak-- I couldn't keep it upright at all. I never flipped it accidentally though: I simply wouldn't go into water deeper than I could reach with my finger-tips! In time I was able to use it in deeper water-- just as they say: "Its like riding a bicycle." I'm glad I stuck with the kayak. . . and my bicycle. Soon I was using the kayak off-shore and in rough conditions; Its just a matter of getting used to it.

The thrills of building and using my first kayak made me interested in traditional kayak designs. After picking up copies of "Inuit Kayaks in Canada" by Eugene Arima, "Qajaq" by David Zimmerly, and "The Bark Canoes and Skinboats of North America" by E. T. Adney & Howard Chappelle, I realized that "traditional" kayaks were a very diverse lot of boats. The images of these kayaks, whether scale drawing or old photograph, deeply compelled me to find out what the sensations of being in such a craft were like. What was it like? I immediately set out to build as many different types of Arctic skin-boats as I could. Thinking back, that's quite an undertaking-- perhaps I didn't have any concept then, but ten years later, I'm still on that mission, with over 60 kayaks having been built, representing over 25 types (depending on whose typology you follow.) Remarkably, I still have over thirty of these replicas. . . an ongoing storage issue, for sure.

The research that building a replica requires is fairly extensive if it is to be done properly-- especially in cases of kayak types that aren't too-well documented.  I try to use the same joinery methods as used in the originals-- even down to the knots and lashing-patterns if the information is available.  The kayaks are wooden, although the 'skins' and lashing materials I use are of modern materials (nylon or canvas) instead of from animals.  

In replicating a kayak, 3-view drawings are the prime source of information.  Other important sources are written descriptions, sketches of joinery, and comparisons with similar examples having more documentation.  Only in a few cases have I deviated from the original shapes of the kayaks I replicated, and this has only been in lengthening the cockpit so I could fit inside. 

Dr. Morten Porsild had it right when he wrote ". . . Not until we ourselves have made use of a complicated implement do we fully understand all its small details, which at first sight, we either do not notice at all, or regard as unimportant for the purpose of the implement, and therefore readily consider them to be peculiarities of style belonging to a certain district or tribe."  (From "Studies on the Material Culture of the Eskimo in West Greenland," Copenhagen, 1915.)    There is no better way to truly understand a kayak than by building and using it.

Other very helpful things to have on hand when building and using a kayak replica are trust, patience, and an open mind.   I've built kayaks I couldn't keep upright and kayaks I couldn't steer.  Are they bad kayaks?  I could've easily thought so and chopped 'em up for firewood, but I knew that someone had once used the same design, for hunting no less-- and in the Arctic.   I trusted their sensibilities as designer, builder, and paddler-hunter, and I ought to at least stick with it long enough to master its nuances-- to gain comfort and capability in the same design.   (Sure as I didn't throw my first bicycle out after the first try!)    Familiarity with the original kayak's context is also key. . . . as in don't take a lake hunting kayak out in the surf and expect to enjoy it.  

In a more abstract sense, kayak replicas have a great appeal to my imagination and intellect.  Their forms and construct inspire awe and genuine wonderment--especially when one considers the harsh context of their origin, and the phenomenal diversity of their forms.  Launching a replica kayak is much like stepping into a time machine: It drops you into a different time, culture, and experience as you leave the shore-- you realize that the original kayak, now gathering dust in the backrooms of some museum, once gave somebody much the same feel on the water that you are now experiencing.   

2006 has been a big year for me: I've achieved my goal of building and using a replica of every main kayak-type from the Arctic tradition and have finished my eight year research project-- the History and Development of the Greenlandic Hunting Kayak, 1600-2000 ("KAYAKS OF GREENLAND"). I hope my work has been enlightening for you, but even moreso, I hope it has been inspiring.

KATHY TUCKER AND HARVEY GOLDEN
And below, Our Boy Max (more Max HERE)
nov. 2007

2006

Max's secret green wonder-island, October 2007.

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