The totora reed boat is an ancient craft used for centuries around Lake Titicaca and the prehistoric Andean world. As recently as 30 years ago these boats were still used exclusively until they began to be replaced by the small wooden sailboats with the large triangular sails that you see today all around the islands of Lake Titicaca, partly because the wooden boats last significantly longer than the four to nine months of a totora boat.
Our boat was about 47 feet long, 15 feet wide and 6 feet high. The mast was about 27 feet high. The daggerboards were 8 ½ feet long and more than 2 feet wide. The head of the rudders were 7 ½ feet long and more than 2 feet long. We had sails made of totora as well as a textile sail. We had 5 oars to row the Qala Yampu when there was no wind and we felt particularly energetic and strong.
Our boat weighed about 12 tons before going to the
water. Once in the lake she absorbed water which is the nature of totora.
The absorbed water acted like ballast, having a tremendous stabilizing
effect. Originally the boat only drafted about 15 inches. Once the stone
was loaded she drafted about double that in the center where the weight
was, but considerably less away from center. She held the weight of
our 9 ton stone with ease. If poles were placed correctly on the deck
of the boat to distribute the weight, the Qala Yampu could have easily
carried double the weight!
Test Boat
Paul tests a small totora boat
w/ totora sail and oar for rudder.
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Under Sail
The Qala Yampu under full sail.
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Class in Session
Paul and Alexei conduct class aboard the Qala Yampu.
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Alone
Our boat after we said goodbye in Santa Rosa.
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