Gommier and Tradition

The gommier is tradition, sport and enjoyment. We present this truly Antillean product, its historic origins and antique methods of construction. Try it for yourself!   "JOUNEN TONBé Lévé": a day of discovery! Introduction to the gommier Mangroves by Kayak sample local dishes and drinks     INITIATION TO THE GOMMIER TAYLOR-MADE FOR GROUPS for more information click here
	HE “GOMMIER” OR CANDLE TREE The Gommier, or “Dacryodes hexandra” according to its botanic classification, presents two varieties of tree differentiated only by its bark, red and white. The white species has a smooth almost shiny bark whilst the red species has a bark that is wrinkly and cracked. The trunk can become very large and tall though irregular in shape, often folded upon itself. The wood is of a very compact composition and hardy, producing a resin which is water resistant and has and incense like perfume. Naturally, the vessels were given the name of the tree from which they are built.   The Red Cedar – Cedrella odorata – seems to have been the first material used to produce gommier, there are examples of the vessels made from Cedar that resemble Arabic ships. Being a larger tree than the Gommier or Candle tree the Cedar permitted builders to produce larger boats thus transporting more passengers or goods though less maneuverable due to their size. Apart from these two types of tree, the inhabitants of the Caribbean used other varieties of tree to create not only the hull but also fixtures and fittings for the vessels.   Taken from the work: "Gommier : le canot caraïbe" by Serge LUCAS
The construction of the gommier, then and now…
The Gommier is a traditional vessel, still constructed today using the same techniques and characteristics of its predecessors. Even before Christopher Columbus reached the Antilles there were boats similar to the gommiers used by the inhabitants to move between the islands and for fishing.   The trunk is cut and hollowed out, softened by the use of fire and then sculpted with water and stone.   The harvesting of the tree is limited and regulated by the National Forestry Office.
Gommier and Yole   It is difficult to differentiate between the two types of boat, both are made of wood and are of similar dimensions, from 8 to 10 meters long . With a rectangular sail, a mast made from tropical timber and boom from bamboo both boats typically have a crew of around 10 people. The primary differences between the two vessels are that the skiff unlike the gommier is not carved out of a trunk and that navigation is performed using poles to lean the boat rather than a rudder.
This page was created in collaboration with the Association Gommier et Tradition

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