Umiak
Skin-covered boat / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This article is about the traditional northern skin-covered boat. For the ice-strengthened bulk carrier, see Umiak I.
The umiak, umialak, umiaq, umiac, oomiac, oomiak, ongiuk, or anyak[1] is a type of open skin boat, used by both Yupik and Inuit, and was originally found in all coastal areas from Siberia to Greenland.[2][3] First used in Thule times, it has traditionally been used in summer, for moving people and possessions to seasonal hunting grounds, and for hunting whales and walrus.[2][4] Although the umiak was usually propelled by oars (women) or paddles (men), sails—sometimes made from seal intestines—were also used, and, in the 20th century, outboard motors.[4][5][6] Because the umiak has no keel, the sails cannot be used for tacking.[7]