Tomol

Tomols are plank-built boats not canoes that were and are still used by the Chumash and Tongva Indians in the Santa Barbara and Los Angeles area. They were also called "te'aat" by the Tongva. Tomols were 8 to 30 meters long, and were especially important because both tribes relied on the sea for sustenance.

Construction

Tomols were preferably built out of redwood that had drifted down the coast. When supplies of redwood were lacking, local native pine was used. When splitting the wood the crafters look for the straight planks lacking in knotholes, they sanded it with sharkskin. The planks were then fitted together by drilling small holes in them and then lashing them. And finally caulked with a mixture called "yop" which was made from hard tar and pine pitch melted and then boiled. Red paint and shell mosaics were often added as decorations.

Abilities & Use

Tomols were paddled with kayak-like paddles while crouching, unlike kayaks where sitting is the norm. They were also highly maneuverable. The Chumash and Tongva used them to paddle to the Channel Islands through long-established routes.

Reconstructions

Both The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and The Chumash Maritime Association of California house Tomols built by later Chumash descendants.

Resources

http://www.mms.gov/omm/pacific/kids/watercraft.htmCalifornian Indian Watercraft by Richard W Cunningham (ISBN 0-945092-01-6) 1989Tomol: Chumash Watercraft as Described in the Ethnographic Notes of John P Harrington, 1978. This book lists 7 pages of references.