Chine bLog

We at Chine bLog try to be quick to point out other doing similar stuff online, especially if there is quality content. I therefore eagerly introduce any readers who haven't found it themselves to the blog ARPEX, written by Peter Mirow out of Rio de Janeiro. Peter gives us too much credit for writing about the Jangadas from his native land. I, of course, grabbed the meat of that post from Bob Holtzman at Indigenous Boats, but I'll take a finders fee's worth of credit.

There is much to find at ARPEX. Peter is building a boat and has nicely detailed his project. He also shares our interest in outrigger canoes. This post in particular has a couple nice boats - I especially like the first. Welcome aboard, ARPEX!.

Jangadas from Wikipedia via Indigenous Boats

Many thanks to our friend Bob Holtzman over at Indigenous Boats for his nice posts on Brazilian Jangadas, traditional craft from Northeastern Brazil. I encourage you to read both: one and two. I am digging this blog - great substance here:

It is a sailing raft built of pueba logs, lashed and pegged together, and sporting a rig with quite a large mailsail and (from what I can tell from the book's photos), sometimes a tiny jib. The mast angles forward very sharply, and the boom angles upward at the stern, so that the mainsail takes the shape of an isosceles triangle resting on its apex. There's a surprisingly sophisticated 11-position mast step that allows the mast's angle to be changed by a considerable amount, no doubt shifting the amount of weather/lee helm, but otherwise, the jangada is about as simple as a craft can be. The jangadieros, or jangada fishermen, take these boats 30 miles offshore in search of market fish, with the logs awash the whole way. Steering is by way of an oar.

Many thanks, Indigenous Boats!

Location: Sao Luis, Brazil