Coracle

[Locky]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coracle

Has anyone here made one? seems a nice little project.

 

[helixpteron]

Here's some info.

 

[al21]

Have you ever paddled one? I found they are an excellent way of burning calories, but you don't get anywhere fast. I'd not swap my canoe for one.

 

[Bushcraftsman]

we made one at school as part of a project (me and two mates) and then entered a regional corcacle race where all the other schools in the area competed haha we came second!

 

[helixpteron]

Have you ever paddled one? I found they are an excellent way of burning calories, but you don't get anywhere fast. I'd not swap my canoe for one.

Never been in one.

But then I don't get anywhere particularly fast anyway, unless I'm on moving water!

And I would never, ever swap my Packrafts for a coracle, not even at gunpoint!

 

[timboggle]

Have you ever paddled one? I found they are an excellent way of burning calories, but you don't get anywhere fast. I'd not swap my canoe for one.

aye mate, I've also eaten in one - the best chippy in Brecon is called the 'Coracle'.....maybe not the best way of burning calories though !!

......no connection, just a happy customer

 

[phill_ue]

They can't be all that bad, there was a welsh fellow hat went across the channel in one! Jim Bridgers' bull boat was basically a coracle too, he didn't seem to do too bad in it!

 

[robin wood]

They skim across the water nicely once you get the hang of them. Not best for long distance on flat water mind, they were designed for net fishing on rivers.

 

[al21]

They skim across the water nicely once you get the hang of them. Not best for long distance on flat water mind, they were designed for net fishing on rivers.

Sure they do, but even watching the experts didn't make me think I'd swap my canoe for one.

Reading back my first post, it comes across as harsher than I intended. I think building your own would be a worth while increase to a set of traditional skills, but I wouldn't plan on joining in with any trips with other boats in a Coracle.

 

[John Fenna]

They can't be all that bad, there was a welsh fellow hat went across the channel in one! Jim Bridgers' bull boat was basically a coracle too, he didn't seem to do too bad in it!

Yup - the same guy who makes them and taught me to paddle one (and taught me to play badminton...our clubs first net was a "recycled salmon net...)!
He lives just down the road from me....

I wrote up an article for SWAT mag (years ago now) on how to build a Bull boat and examples of coracles from around the world (including a Bull Boat) are to be found in the Coracle Museum in Cenarth on the Teifi River in Carmarthenshire.
The reason that the Bull Boat used by the Mandan Indians is like a corracle is that they are decended from Prince Llewellyns men - who "discovered" America before those pesky Vikings or Spanish/Italians
The Mandans also spoke Welsh - but were wiped out by disease brought in by those darned Sais, deliberately targeting the poor old Welsh yet again!

 

[phill_ue]

I never knew the Welsh were a pioneering nation! Next thing you'll be telling me is they repelled the barbarian hordes at Carthage!

 

[John Fenna]

We were the barbarian hordes!
Slight set back that time bach...but we will be back!