"We have some boats around here that have 200-horsepower motors on them," said Paul in Baker Lake, who didn't want his last name published. "They go pretty quick.I guess some people just like to go fast"

Baker Lake, like many other communities, is full of Lund 18-foot aluminum boats, but the 22-foot freighter canoe still has its place in the Eastern Arctic community.

"Some people use it for camping, fishing or hunting. Also just for travelling," said Paul.

In Cape Dorset, white fibre glass boats bigger than a canoe, but similar in shape are most common.

"Just about every family has one. They just seem to work well in the waters around our community," said Peter Eteriak.

Most families there equip their boats with a more conservative 70-horsepower motor.

"It does the trick," said Eteriak.

Over in Hall Beach, canoes and motorboats are equally popular. Motorboats range from 18 to 24 feet and motors range from 18 to 90 horsepower.

"But not too many people paddle around here any more," said Charlie Amarualik.

Residents there use their boats for anything from seal and walrus hunting to caribou hunting.

"You need something dependable, because it's too cold to swim," said Amarualik.

In Fort Good Hope, the 14- to 18-foot Lund is most popular, probably because of its low draft and dependability.

"Everyone uses them for travelling, for hunting and fishing and that sort of stuff," said Dan, who didn't want his last name published.

"They're a good workhorse, they get the job done and they seem to last pretty well," he said.

But in Arviat - on the shore of Hudson Bay - speedboats are becoming more popular.

"I don't know why, I guess it's because they go really fast," said Lois Locke.

"Hardly anybody goes very far out in the bay, so we don't really need anything that big," she said.