The ocean-going canoes of the Makah were purpose-built for the specific conditions of the outer coast: the long Pacific swells, the unpredictable weather, and the practical requirements of hunting large marine animals from the canoe.

They were designed to handle rough water while remaining stable enough for a crew to work effectively and safely.

The specific form of the Makah whaling canoe, with its distinctive bow and stern profiles, was the product of centuries of refinement in response to the specific demands of the marine environment.

The Ozette assemblage includes canoe-related materials.

Paddle fragments, canoe components, and other elements document the canoe technology of the pre-contact period.

The specific forms documented at Ozette can be compared to the ethnographic record and to the canoes preserved in museum collections from the contact period, establishing the continuity of the tradition and the specific variations that characterized the pre-contact manifestation.