Riding through rough open waters aboard a chartered motorboat, Harry Beran looked out to the remote islands off Papua New Guinea's east cape.

It would be hours until his first destination, so the art historian settled in for a long voyage at sea.

He was on a mission to research the elaborate tribal art carvings that adorn the region's traditional sailing canoes, before they disappeared forever.

"The majority of the artworks that were made, say a century ago, are no longer made," Dr Beran said.

"My guess is that in 50 years' time, perhaps the whole art tradition will have disappeared and I'm trying to describe this art tradition while it's still possible."

Dr Beran interviews residents of Egum Islet. ( ABC Central West: Luke Wong )

Almost half a century ago, the retired scholar first ventured to the vast Milne Bay Province, also known as the Massim region.

Since then he has returned more than a dozen times to collect hundreds of artefacts and discover the legends behind their designs.

It was an obsession that led him to own what was once probably the largest private collection of Massim art in the world.

"It's a very rich art, complex iconography, so it's easy enough to get interested in it," he said.

Choosing speed and convenience, a group of Brooker Island men use a motor-powered dinghy to fish for their village. ( ABC Central West: Luke Wong )

While many locals choose the speed and convenience of motor-powered dinghies, sailing canoes remain vital for transport and ceremonial trade around the province.

"Milne Bay Province is mostly an island world and so canoes are absolutely central to the culture," Dr Beran said.

"They are built by master carvers; they're seaworthy and capable of going long distances."

The largest type of boat, the nagega, can measure up to 11 metres long and easily ferry a dozen people.

The ends of the hull are ornamented with shallow-relief, handcrafted wood carvings, often depicting animals and celestial bodies.

A sailing canoe streaming through the clear waters off the coast of Panapompom Island. ( ABC Central West: Luke Wong )

Dr Beran is fascinated with the tribal aesthetics, but believes the nagega is now made on only a handful of islands in the region.

"The keel of these canoes is cut from one tree, and this keel is again represented on the washboard as well as on the wave splitter of the canoe," he said.

Australian Maritime Museum curator of historic vessels, David Payne, measures up a nagega sailing canoe on Dawson Island. ( ABC Central West: Luke Wong )

David Payne is the Curator of Historic Vessels at the Australian Maritime Museum.

As a yacht designer, he came on the journey to lend his skills and knowledge to draw plans of the various canoes and document their construction techniques.

"It is all actually a very early means of sailing, but it all works extremely well and they actually make good progress. They're very fast boats," Mr Payne said.

Sailors steer a tadobu sailing canoe off the coast of Kitava Island. ( ABC Central West: Luke Wong )

Whenever they encountered a canoe of interest, Mr Payne waded ashore and asked the villagers for permission to measure up their boats.

Working in the intense tropical heat, he often attracted a crowd of curious onlookers, but being up close gave him a unique view of the weathered watercraft.

"Some of the things that I've been able to draw up, I don't think anybody else has been able to measure it as accurately and as detailed as I have," he said.

Residents of Gawa Island carry a disused sailing canoe splashboards and wave splitter to sell to tourists. Older and skilfully crafted pieces can fetch thousands on the international tribal art market. ( ABC Central West: Luke Wong )

Meanwhile, Dr Beran interviewed local men about the recurring motifs carved on the canoe splashboards and wave splitters.

While museums and art galleries around the world hold large collections of Massim canoes and components, Dr Beran said most of them were poorly documented.

"One of the objectives of my research is to collect information so that all of these huge numbers of objects we have and look after can be documented much better," he said.

Young men test their model sailing canoes on the beach at Panaeati Island. ( ABC Central West: Luke Wong )

After he listened to the ageing craftsmen and village elders tell their stories, Dr Beran stressed that the future of canoe-making rested in the hands of the next generation.

"Either the young people will be taught by the older people or the skills will disappear," he said.

Residents of Bomalou village at Panawina Island with one of the community's traditional sailing canoes. ( ABC Central West: Luke Wong )

At 82 years old, it may be the last time he ventures to this remote part of the world.

But for him age is no barrier to ambition, so he plans to return and continue his research.

"Recording a great art tradition, which is in very considerable decline, for future generations of Milne Bay Province people and for the rest of the world is a worthwhile job."