A Brief History of Human Powered Transportation

North America

The long-slender low-drag hull was also exploited by the early inhabitants of North-America. The canoe shown in the top diagram is a birch bark covered frame that was employed by the Native Americans to take advantage of the extensive natural waterways of the continent. The boat was light and could be carried around rapids and other navigation hazards

From: McGrail, "Ancient Boats, The archeology of water transport to AD 1500," Longman (1987)

The kayak shown in the lower diagrams is a modern version of the vessels developed by the Inuit people. Their boats were covered in animal skin rather than the composite materials of the boats shown.