Has anybody ever seen a canoe cannon mounted on a canoe?

You may want to look into Rangeley boats, they were used on Rangeley lake in Western Maine were wood and originally I am told they all had cannons mounted on them. It seemed they fell out of favor when some locals went flying into a flock of ducks and let fly to collect their dinner
 
A canoe cannon???? One way to clear busy portages LOL LOL....and a different definition of a 'war canoe' LOL LOL

Seriously though Wikipedia: Canoe, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canoe, this description under "War Canoe":

War canoes have been extensively used in Africa to transport troops and supplies, and engage targets onshore. While documentation of canoe versus canoe battles in on the open ocean is rare, records from the 14th century mention various tribal peoples of West Africa using huge fighting canoes in inland waters, some up to 80 feet (24 m) and carrying over 100 men. Construction of the war canoe was typically from one massive tree trunk, with the silk cotton tree being particularly useful. The inside was dug out and carved using fire and hand tools. Braces and stays were used to prevent excessive expansion while the fire treatment was underway. Fire also served to release sap as a preservative against insect pests. Some canoes had 7 to 8 feet (2.4 m) of width inside, accommodating benches for rowers, and facilities such as fireplaces and sleeping berths.

Warriors onboard were typically armed with shield, spear and bow. In the gunpowder era, small iron or brass cannon were sometimes mounted on the bow or stern, although the firepower delivered from these areas and weapons was relatively ineffective. Musketeers delivering fire to cover raiding missions generally had better luck. The typical tactic was to maneuver close to shore, discharge weapons, then quickly pull out to open water to reload, before dashing in again to repeat the cycle. Troop and supply transport were the primary missions, but canoe versus canoe engagements in the lagoons, creeks and lakes of West Africa were also significant.


The point about using cannon for hunting is interesting too....I recall a passage in James Michener's Chesapeake on the use of such a device in waterfowl hunting....literally targetting whole flocks....so such a device on a canoe for early market hunting makes sense....

Interesting topic....looking forward to hearing more....
 
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