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Overview
This is a model of a vaka tou'ua (outrigger sailing canoe). Vessels of this type were sailed in eastern Pacific well into the nineteenth century. Vaka tou'ua were outrigger vessels used for fishing and travel between the scattered islands of the Marquesas. Few details were ever recorded about these vaka, making reconstructing them difficult. Two decaying vaka tou'ua hulls were last seen in 1925.
Construction
A vaka tou'ua hull was attached to its outrigger by a series of cross-beams that provided support for a deck. The hull was pointed at both ends and decorated with carved washboards stitched to its lower body. The bow was typically decorated with distinctive carving, while the stern was curved and tapered to a point decorated with a small carving.
Sails and masts
Vaka tou'ua had a triangular sail made from long strips of pandanus cloth that had been sewn together. The strips ran horizontally. The loose edges were fixed to an upward curving boom. The tops of the masts were decorated with streamer-like tell tales (wind direction indicators). Ropes were made from coconut fibre cord.