TGK's Southwest Greenland Sea Kayak is a dimensionally faithful reproduction of turn-of-the-20th-century Eskimo sea kayaks in the Disko Bay area of South West Greenland, as represented by the lines of a 1921 survey done by Norman Skene¹.  This kayak is 17' 1” long and 20.5” wide at mid-cockpit sheer, with a distinctly hard-chine hullform.  Depth to sheer is 6.5” just behind the cockpit.  [See Extended Stats, below, for more numeric details.]

    The original saw much use in the open ocean around Greenland, where it fulfilled nicely its purpose as a “fast and handy hunting boat”² for pursuing and hauling seals.  Rolling was common practice in this craft—indeed, the boat's hydrodynamic characteristics were an ideal combination of upright stability and rolling capability.

    As is the case with most Greenland kayaks, the boat has low volume in proportion to its other dimensions; since the Greenlanders preferred to tow their catch after the hunt rather than stow it aboard, their kayaks were not given much interior capacity.  This feature offered the definite advantage, however, of lowering the freeboard, which eased travel in high winds and waves.



    The fusion of several vital qualities necessitated by its originating environment has made the South West Greenland sea kayak a versatile paddling workhorse.

    Speed was a primary Inuit consideration, and this boat, a product of much development in Greenland watercraft, is among the fastest native sea kayaks ever produced.  The flatwater theoretical maximum is about 5 knots, but this speed is very easily surpassed; 8-12 knots can be achieved with a Euro paddle.  This is due partly to the very long waterline, partly to the narrow beam, and partly to minimal underwater surface area.

    Although its primary stability varies with the weight of the kayaker and is never much in any case, the boat has considerable (secondary stability) and resists overturning out until a great angle from horizontal (35-50 degrees depending on load). It also exerts a good deal of righting force when emerging from a roll3.

    Its original inception as a hunting craft used in relatively unobstructed ocean waters called for speed in preference to maneuverability; thus there is very little rocker, and the waterline is 80-90% of the total length. 

    However, the boat's reluctance to turn (an asset under most conditions) can be overcome by using the “leaning sweep” technique—leaning the hips toward the outside of a curve while paddling.  This technique alters the hull properties by using the chine rather than the keelson to steer the boat and with it dramatic turns and sharp swerves can be handily executed.   Because this kayak has tremendous intrinsic stability while being leaned, it is ideal for the use of the “leaning sweep” stroke.

    Although intermediate to advanced skill is required to safely use the South West Greenland kayak in ocean waters—where its qualities and versatility truly shine—the boat has such stability that even beginners will find it secure and enjoyable for kayaking on inland lakes.  And since it is a “user-friendly” kayak with an built-in urge to remain or become upright, it is ideal for practicing the aspects of paddling art—sculling, bracing, carving, sweeps, and rolls—that impart skill for more adventurous uses in large waves on open water.

---

    After several years of design, experimentation, and prototyping, we now offer several distinct models of this kayak.  These are frame prices, for customers who do their own skinning; see Skinning page for information on buying the completed skin covering from us.


G 3.3 Custom Foldable
    Available only as a custom package, this is a folding frame that can be repeatedly collapsed for transportation, then reassembled anywhere.  Easily manipulated stainless metal hardware and carefully shaped members make this only a 15-minute job.  This is the best value to be found in a tough folding skin-and-frame anywhere.  Total weight 35 lbs; folded size 14”x14”x5'.
Price: $1800-$2000

G 3.3 Standard
    A “semi-folding” model; constructed with wood screw fasteners permitting infrequent disassembly/reassembly (package ships as 14”x14”x5').  Simpler hardware makes this model about 3 lbs lighter than the Plus model.
Price: $1500

G 3.03 Folding Club
    The G 3.03 Folding Club is structurally identical to the 3.01 Club (see below) except that it is fully foldable.
Price: $1200

G 3.01 Club
This frame, easily skinned with Dacron, makes an excellent, fast, yet economical boat ideal for clubs, high schools, and colleges, which at this price can be quickly outfitted with classic Greenland style kayaks.  Also perfect for budget-minded paddlers seeking the supurb elegance of a fine Greenland kayak; enabling them to get their hands on a boat ranking with the best skin-and-frames on the market, very cheaply.
Price $900

G 2.1 Traditional
    This boat is intended for traditionalists who prefer all-wood frames, yet cannot appreciate the cost of buying or learning to make a replica ribbed Greenland.  While retaining the modern crossframe structural arrangement, the G 2 frame is built entirely of wood and is a beautiful work of art.
Price: $1600

---

Extended Specifications

Total Length: 17' 1”
Width at Cockpit Sheer: 20.5”
Typical Width at Cockpit Waterline: 19.75”
Width at Cockpit Chines: 18”
Minimum Cockpit Dimensions: 24”L x 17”W
Typical Flare Angle from Chine to Gunnel: 10 degrees
Total Depth at Cockpit: 12” Fore End, 6” Aft End
Rocker Fore and Aft: 1.25”, 0.75”
Typical Waterline to Sheer Distance at Bow, Cockpit, Stern:  6”, 3”, 4.5”
Length of Waterline: 16'-16'8” depending on loading
Theoretical Maximum Speed with 150 lb load: 4.9 Knots4
       

---

1.reprinted in Adney and Chapelle's “Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America”, ch 7, fig 207.  It should be noted that although the subject of Skene's survey was an authentic native boat, there is some question whether he altered certain details such as width in his lines.  In any case, such changes would have comprised only idealizations, or averages across several kayaks.  Skene's longstanding familiarity with the boats he was surveying definitely precludes any possibility of outright error.  However, there is an apparent exception where he took liberties with the gunnel curvature.  A look at the figure will reveal that Skene reports this boat to be 19.25” wide, rather than 20.5” as we have done. However, careful observation shows that Skene neglected to measure the beam in the middle of the cockpit (the boats widest point) and merely drew a straight line from aft end of cockpit to fore end, then reported the widest point to be the width at fore end.  In the real boat, the natural curvature of the wood would have introduced some extra width in the middle of the cockpit.  The gunnels on our kayaks (which are 19.25” across at each end of the cockpit) bow outward 0.5” on each side, accounting for the difference.  This is what the original boat would have done as well.
2.Adney and Chapelle, “Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America”, pp 211
3.Although the admirable West Greenland style kayak with flared hull and quite pronounced v-shaped bottom has been touted as being the ultimate regarding these attributes, the Southwest Greenland model is faster, stabler, and potentially more rolling-friendly, providing stronger righting force after the “hip flick.”
4.Zimmerly