Kuna Canoes

One of the most distinctive things about the Kuna lifestyle is their dependence on boats, namely the dugout canoe. Considering that most of the land they live on is made up of small coastal islands, this makes a lot of sense. They are used for transportation as well as fishing, and the owners take great pride in maintaining them and keeping their bottoms painted with tar to prevent rot. The most popular design, the round-bottom dugout canoe (above left), is between 10 and 15 feet long - but we have seen some as long as 20 feet. Almost all are paddled with large traditional wooden paddles (above right), which are optimized for propulsion and steering from the stern like a rudder. We have also seen long poles used for getting around in the shallow water. Some of the larger canoes have been fitted with modern outboard motors but most of the smaller ones use paddles.

Almost every canoe we have seen (even some very big ones) has been impressively carved from one large log. "Canallete" wood, the wood of choice, is harvested on the mainland where it is split and hollowed. Initially the log half is hollowed by burning out the center, or heart wood. This process can take many days. Finally, the inside and outside of the hull are carved to the final shape using planes and carving tools. Some of the dugouts we have seen have been repaired with metal patches nailed over cracks to keep them from spreading and to stop leaks, but as with any small boat there is usually someone bailing water.

The sailing dugout canoe is another common sight and allows for faster and easier travel from island to island. Sailing canoes have mast steps for sailing rigs and removable amas (or pontoons) for additional stability. The rig (mast and sail) of choice is the simple yet effective "boomless sprit rig" with a small triangular headsail. There is even a large sailing canoe regatta held in Porvenir with "hundreds of boats," we are told.

These boats are not for show. They are hardened workboats used everyday and allow the fisherman to catch fish to feed their families or to transport coconuts, bananas, and other fresh fruit to market.


TSS