The builders of dugouts in Tuvalu would seem to pride themselves on the lightness of their hulls for the wood of this one is very thin and this would mean that the beat would have to remain in the water or alternatively be kept out of the sun when ashore or the hull would crack and split. This in turn, since it would have to be carried up the beach, would mitigate against weight, and wether in Western Samoa or Thames Ditton this has always been the problem and the result must always be a compromise.

The Gilbert and Ellice Islands, the subject of Arthur Grimbell's delightful book "A Pattern of Islands", achieved independance in 1978 when the Union Flag was hauled down for the last time by Sergeant Brian Jones of the Royal Air Force who was then Personal Secretary to H.M. Commissioner and who brought this little dugout to England on his return.

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Unknown

Fishing & Transport

Outrigger

1950's

Tuvalu

Unknown

Length
19 ft 11 in

Width
5 ft 2 in