Matsalu tüüpi ühepuuvene valmistamine Viljandimaal 2024. aastal

Abstract

The building of Matsalu region dugout canoes ceased in the first half of the last century, causing the disappearance of craftsmen, skills and the continuity of building traditions. The few detailed descriptions and known construction techniques of these dugout canoes are scattered in Estonian archives and museums. Collecting texts and photos related to Matsalu wooden boats started in 2022 thanks to the Matsalu Puupaat (Matsalu wooden boat) Facebook group. Soon after, we started cooperation with the Estonian Dugout Canoe Society, who were also willing to support research on Matsalu region. Two years of research bore fruit, and by the end of 2023 the first historical-technical overview of Matsalu dugout canoes was completed, bringing together descriptions of different techniques, the use of the boat and the general historical context found in ethnographic collections and other sources. However, the ethnographic descriptions were not alone sufficient to reconstruct this dugout canoe. Fortunately, there are many Matsalu-type canoes in Estonian museums, and since written sources lack many details we have gained much knowledge by studying these canoes.

Thanks to these efforts, we have been able to compile a sufficiently com prehensive overview of almost every stage of making a Matsalu dugout canoe. In cooperation with the Estonian Dugout Canoe Society, we took the first steps towards reconstructing this historical boat type and were eager to experiment with the techniques we found in the sources.

In September 2024, a group of traditional woodworking enthusiasts gathered in Viljandimaa to take part in an experimental venture to build a Matsalu type canoe. The guides were Priit-Kalev Parts and Kaido Kama, renowned craftsmen and experts in Soomaa region dugout canoes. This practical diary gives a detailed description of the construction of the Matsalu-type dugout canoe in Viljandimaa, providing an overview of the lessons learned during the reconstruction of this long-forgotten west Estonian dugout canoe.