I anticipate some interest in indegenous canoes here, mostly centred on birchbark and Inuit models. The Aboriginal populations of North Queensland, Australia lived in a monsoon climate, the wet and the dry and the need for canoes was probably transitory as was much of the water. That combined with an often nomadic lifestyle following seasons and food sources based on 60,00 years of tradition and experience meant that a canoe was an item made on the spot for a certain purpose and then abandoned and a new one made when necessary.

(having some trouble loading image here, bear with me)

...well, just how long are we to bear with you? sheesh...such a tease...
ANYway...I'm sure a lot of us are interested in indegenous types. A long time ago I heard of northern tier natives having used bushes on their kayaks to catch the wind...don't know how valid that is, but....

Had to load the image, hopefully, in another post
http://www.mms.qld.edu.au/getting-about/bark-canoe.htm

These canoes were often poled rather than paddled and were used in water inhabited by big crocodiles so probably mostly on shallow swamps. A cousin of my fathers lost his wife to a croc in the Kimberleys in the 1930's

Sku, that's one butt-ugly boat. No wonder crocs stayed away from it!

More here http://museumvictoria.com.au/Search/?q=bark%2520canoes
It's a big country with a big variation in climate and materials so there are differences in boats

Nice site--thanks!