All in all the distinctions seem pretty silly. I know us westerners like our
neat little classifications and all, but I think what is really important
when evaluating the merits of a boat is how it handles for YOU in the
situations YOU are most likely to paddle in. If I'm not mistaken aren't most
true greenland, and aleut, kayaks built specifically for the paddler using
their dimensions as a starting point? I bet the fact that some Greenlanders
used skegs and some didn't comes down to the same reason some people like
skegs and some people like rudders--they make the paddler feel better in
their boat.
I paddle a boat, Seaward Eandevor that is advertised as being "a Greenland
style" boat, but I cannot for the life of me see how it is similar to any of
the traditional skin on frame boats I've ever seen--except maybe that it is
an oblong single person water-craft that is propelled with a double blade.
In fact, aside from the Greanlander and the Anas Acuda, most of the Brit
boats look about as Greenlandic as mine does. Hmm...

Eric Johnson wrote:

All in all the distinctions seem pretty silly.

Agreed. Most of the terms don't mean much anymore.

I know us westerners like our
neat little classifications and all, but I think what is really important
when evaluating the merits of a boat is how it handles for YOU in the
situations YOU are most likely to paddle in.

Absolutely.

If I'm not mistaken aren't most
true greenland, and aleut, kayaks built specifically for the paddler using
their dimensions as a starting point?

Yup.

I bet the fact that some Greenlanders
used skegs and some didn't comes down to the same reason some people like
skegs and some people like rudders--they make the paddler feel better in
their boat.

Perhaps in some cases, but it was generally done to make the boats stronger
tracking for hunting. They wanted boats that would hold a straight course while
gliding, so they could throw a harpoon/spear or shoot a rifle. It's my
understanding that the use of skegs increased when the Inuit started hunting
with rifles.

I paddle a boat, Seaward Eandevor that is advertised as being "a Greenland
style" boat, but I cannot for the life of me see how it is similar to any of
the traditional skin on frame boats I've ever seen--except maybe that it is
an oblong single person water-craft that is propelled with a double blade.
In fact, aside from the Greanlander and the Anas Acuda, most of the Brit
boats look about as Greenlandic as mine does. Hmm...

Agreed.

--
Regards

Brian