Ghanaian fishing canoe
Alyssa Saldivar
This model was built and decorated to represent a Ghanaian fishing canoe. These vessels range from small canoes which can carry one to two fishermen, up to thirty-foot long sailboats that can carry up to eighteen people. The paint and decorative stickers on the outer hull are a representation of the bright and colorful fishing vessels that speckle the Ghanaian coastline. A familial practice, fishing provides the greatest income for coastal communities. The colors and symbols found on these canoes represent good luck, family tradition, and ownership.
This model is of a larger fishing canoe, built to venture into deeper water. As coastal fishing grounds were depleted, fishermen were forced to push further into the Atlantic to make a profit. This required larger and sturdier vessels, leading builders to increase the size of their reliable dugout canoes. As large trees began to dwindle in availability, smaller trees were used to form the bottom section of the vessel, which was then built up with side planks, expanding the hull. Oars were traded for larger sails, taking advantage of the winds. Even as outboard motors became more available, sails remained useful, as a broken motor could easily strand fishermen at sea. These fishing canoes can still be seen sailing across the water today. They are excellent representations of the maritime culture that spans the Ghanaian coast.
Ghana Canoe before painting
Profile View
Plan View