Acaïque (Greek:καΐκι,kaiki, fromOttoman Turkish:قایق,romanized: kayık[1]) is atraditional fishing boat usually found among the waters of theIonian orAegean Sea, and also a light skiff used on theBosporus.[1] It is traditionally a small wooden trading vessel, brightly painted and rigged for sail. The caïque is also a typical case of positioning the widestbeam far aft, with a long sharp bow.[2]
Caïques are often built on theforeshore in ashipyard, frompine wood.
The craft's hull is built with sawn ribs and a timber keel, stem, etc. covered withcarvel planking, terminated with thedeck. The frame of the craft is often painted with orange primer to preserve and seal the timber. The caïque usually has a shortmast.
Abowsprit is stayed byrigging. In thestern of the caïque the predominant form is thetiller. These wooden steering arms are sometimes carved in a dog's or animal's face. The caïque often has ahorizontalwindlass mounted over the bow. Thebow is also known in Greek as theproura orplowri, similar to theEnglishprow.
Most caïques are painted white to counter the powerful sun, with thestrakes andtopsides in vivid chromatic colors. The boat's name is painted or carved on a tablet on the planking below the bow.
Each caïque is unique. Most are built from the boatbuilder's craft and memory, not from plans. The bow post distinguishes the caïque from otherMediterranean working boats.
Traditionally, the caïque was used for fishing and trawling. Lately, it has become a short excursion vessel, and former fishermen make money from the summer tourist trade on busy islands such asCorfu andMykonos.
The art of the boatbuilder is dying asplastic andfiberglass crafts supersede wooden crafts.
Caïque is also the term for a light skiff or long, narrow rowboat used especially on the Bosporus,Turkey.[3]
Historically, a caïque was a boat of 5–6 meters (16–20 ft) in length, and 1 meter (3 ft) in width, used mainly for transportation. It had a shape similar to that of a skate. Both ends were in such a form that it could be rowed in either direction with equal ease. The sides consisted of two long embellished boards. There were also lateral boards supporting the sides against water pressure.
There were also imperial caïques used by theOttoman sultans and his suite for ceremonial and daily excursion purposes. The size and grandeur of this type, adorned with imperial armorials and floral scrolls, reflected his royal power. Another feature of imperial caiques was the deck pavilion, a partition or a small kiosk for theSultan. Because of this feature, they were also called "pavilion caïques".
Today, ordinary caïques are used mainly for local fishing purposes, and the current imperial caïques are modern reconstructions utilized only for tourist purposes.
From theFrenchcaïque, from theItaliancaicco, from Ottoman Turkishkayık (the source of the word loaned into Greekkaiki and ultimately the English word as well), related toNew Persianqayeq but ultimately fromproto-Turkickiayguk "boat, oar, rowed boat". It bears no connection tokayak.[4][5][6]
The similarly-namedMaltesekajjik is derived from the caïque.[7]
