Polynesian outrigger canoe
A Polynesian outrigger canoe is a traditional sailing vessel with a main hull and a lateral float for stability, used for navigation across the Pacific.
Also known as: Polynesian sailing canoe, outrigger canoe
How big is it?
8.7 m · defined hull length
Also 28.54 ft
Defined hull length · defined specimen
Typical recorded range: 7 m to 11 m.
A little perspective
Polynesian outrigger canoe vs Squash court: length comparison
The length of a squash court is about 1.12 times the hull length of a Polynesian outrigger canoe.
A Polynesian outrigger canoe is a traditional sailing vessel with a main hull and a lateral float for stability, used for navigation across the Pacific.
A squash court is an enclosed room with four walls used for playing the sport of squash.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions. Horizontal rulers compare the selected spans; vertical brackets also identify height on the artwork.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Polynesian outrigger canoe
Defined hull length: 8.7 m; defined specimen; range 7 m–11 m.
A defined single-outrigger Polynesian sailing canoe with an 8.7 m main hull, 180 kg rigged mass and 4 m/s sailing pace. Traditional forms vary by island, purpose and construction; hull length excludes steering paddles.
Smithsonian Ocean — Polynesian voyaging
The marked defined hull length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Squash court
Length: 9.75 m; standard.
9.75 × 6.4 m playing surface. Excludes surrounding space.
WA Government — squash dimensions
The marked length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 8.7 m
We compare the hull length of a Polynesian outrigger canoe. This is an illustrative comparison value, not a claim that every example is the same. The recorded range is 7 m to 11 m.
A defined single-outrigger Polynesian sailing canoe with an 8.7 m main hull, 180 kg rigged mass and 4 m/s sailing pace. Traditional forms vary by island, purpose and construction; hull length excludes steering paddles.
The marked horizontal span follows the measured feature, not the edges of the image. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.7 m | 7 m to 11 m | defined specimen | |
| 180 kg | 120 kg to 260 kg | defined specimen | |
| 4 m/s | 2.5 m/s to 6 m/s | defined specimen |
Around this scale
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The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- Smithsonian Ocean — Polynesian voyagingPolynesian voyaging-canoe form and cultural context; dimensions and speed are explicit atlas specimen choices.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
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