RecordModel, of inflatable raft< 1 of 1 > Back from Peru
Model, of inflatable raftThis wooden painted model is of an inflatable raft from 1800. The raft would have been used in the surf off the coastal waters of Peru and Chile. The model is built to a scale of 1:6 and was reconstructed in the museum workshops, on the basis of early travellers' accounts. The original would have been made of sealskin floats coated with clay and oil to make them waterproof. The pouches of seal hide would have been filled with sand or reeds to achieve the required shape and then sun-dried before the filling was removed. Each float would have had a tube to allow for re-inflation in case of air escaping. Traditional watercraft were generally not highly developed in South America. In many regions, lack of suitable timber restricted boat development. Record detailsTo search on related items, click any linked text below.
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