Qala Yampu: The Lake Titicaca Reed Boat Project

It took us about 2 1/2 months to build our boat, including harvesting and drying the totora. In reality that is a miraculously short time compared to other similar boats. To build a boat the reeds must be harvested by cutting them several feet below the water’s surface with a scythe, or a long pole with a knife tied to the end. Once cut the reeds must dry in the sun for 3 to 4 weeks before they are ready to use in boat construction. Care must be taken to spread the totora properly in the sun to avoid rotting.

The reeds are gathered in bundles, or amaros, a “rough” Aymara measurement about just big enough for an adult to wrap both arms around solidly. Our boat required about 3000 of these bundles, or about 1,800,000 reeds. Our boat consists of basically 4 parts:

The first 3 parts were made of totora and rope. All 3 parts consisted of long cigar-shaped rolls, or chorizos, of totora roughly 47 feet long and 4.5 feet in circumference. The body was made by stacking about 36 rolls, 18 on either side. The heart, 3 of the long totora rolls stacked together, was placed between the 2 sides. Next began the process of connecting the sides with the heart to make the body. Two ropes were used, starting at one end of the boat alternating wrapping one rope around the left side and the heart and the other rope wrapping around the right side and the heart. This alternating process continued for the entire length of the boat, spacing the rope about 1 foot apart with each wrap.

Once the sides were joined then the ropes were tightened over and over again until the ropes were so tight that you could not slip anything between the ropes and the totora. The heart was no longer visible as it was squeezed between the 2 bodies becoming one single solid hull. The borders, also long cigar shaped rolls of totora, were then connected by rope to the top edges of the hull forming the sturdy gunwales of totora.

We had a set of sails made out of totora as well as a large sail made out of cloth. The mast, rudders, daggerboards, and oars were all made out of wood and rope.

				*Click the thumbnail below to see the larger photo!*
	It took us about 2 1/2 months to build our boat, including harvesting and drying the totora. In reality that is a miraculously short time compared to other similar boats. To build a boat the reeds must be harvested by cutting them several feet below the water’s surface with a scythe, or a long pole with a knife tied to the end. Once cut the reeds must dry in the sun for 3 to 4 weeks before they are ready to use in boat construction. Care must be taken to spread the totora properly in the sun to avoid rotting. The reeds are gathered in bundles, or amaros, a “rough” Aymara measurement about just big enough for an adult to wrap both arms around solidly. Our boat required about 3000 of these bundles, or about 1,800,000 reeds. Our boat consists of basically 4 parts: The first 3 parts were made of totora and rope. All 3 parts consisted of long cigar-shaped rolls, or chorizos, of totora roughly 47 feet long and 4.5 feet in circumference. The body was made by stacking about 36 rolls, 18 on either side. The heart, 3 of the long totora rolls stacked together, was placed between the 2 sides. Next began the process of connecting the sides with the heart to make the body. Two ropes were used, starting at one end of the boat alternating wrapping one rope around the left side and the heart and the other rope wrapping around the right side and the heart. This alternating process continued for the entire length of the boat, spacing the rope about 1 foot apart with each wrap. Once the sides were joined then the ropes were tightened over and over again until the ropes were so tight that you could not slip anything between the ropes and the totora. The heart was no longer visible as it was squeezed between the 2 bodies becoming one single solid hull. The borders, also long cigar shaped rolls of totora, were then connected by rope to the top edges of the hull forming the sturdy gunwales of totora. We had a set of sails made out of totora as well as a large sail made out of cloth. The mast, rudders, daggerboards, and oars were all made out of wood and rope.			*Totora Roll* One roll almost complete. Our boat had almost 40 such rolls. ________ Hull of Rolls Rebekka sits upon rolls of totora as the hull begins to take shape. ________ Hull Takes Shape The rolls are no longer visible as the hull is tightened over and over. ________