He waka karoro whakaritea ngā waka tōpū ālumine i runga i te whakamahi mo te hīkoi o ngā wai. Ko te tōpū ālumine he pūtake hapahana mō te whanake i te whakatutuki ā-motor me te kawe i te mana wehe, ahakoa ko te paewhenua nui kei roto. Ko ōna āhuatanga e pai ai ki te kawe i ngā wai e rerekē ana, inahea ko ngā urenga, ngā mumu, me ngā wai kai e kai ana. Kua whakaritea ngā waka nei i ngā reta pumareka, ngā kaupapa tono me utu haere, me etahi atu āhuatanga pai ake, pēnei i ngā reta tupeka moe, me ngā toko ā-paku mo te uru whenua. He tino whakaaro pai ngā waka tōpū ālumine mo ngā marae mahi e hiahiatia ana te kawe me te tiaki i ngā wai, whakapai i te mahi, te pai me te utu whakahaere.