How many people would be needed to crew a hundred-foot dugout canoe made as a village project?
Short answerAnything from a few rowers to roughly fifty or one hundred people could be appropriate, depending on hull shape, sail use, desired speed, and whether it serves as a war canoe.
NotesLength alone cannot determine the crew because the hull's shape and intended use matter. A hundred-foot canoe could move slowly with only a few rowers if speed and maneuverability were unimportant. Turning it into a fast war canoe would require many more paddlers, with the panel suggesting roughly fifty to one hundred people. Adding sails changes the calculation again because rig handling and the balance between sail and oar propulsion create different labor needs.