My new coracle

[torjusg]

Again, thank you for all of your kind words.

Toddy

For construction, the saplings are stuck in the ground and two are bent over against eachother. The weave is done by using a little smaller saplings with significant overlap. These saplings are pulled through from the small end until in desired position.

Did that answer you question?

 

[Klenchblaize]

VERY cool!

 

[Toddy]

Again, thank you for all of your kind words.

Toddy

For construction, the saplings are stuck in the ground and two are bent over against eachother. The weave is done by using a little smaller saplings with significant overlap. These saplings are pulled through from the small end until in desired position.

Did that answer you question?

Kind of; did you weave the heavyier, all around, rim while the framework was still in the ground? or wait until it was turned over?

My father used to build dinghies in a very similar manner, upside down with the rib frames staked into the ground.

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[torjusg]

Kind of; did you weave the heavyier, all around, rim while the framework was still in the ground? or wait until it was turned over?

My father used to build dinghies in a very similar manner, upside down with the rib frames staked into the ground.

Cheers,
Toddy

The rim is comprised of the small saplings that are weaved in many layers around the heavier ones (that is the framwork). Did that come out better?

Did your father weave or use nails?

 

[Toddy]

The rim is comprised of the small saplings that are weaved in many layers around the heavier ones (that is the framwork). Did that come out better?

Did your father weave or use nails?

Got you
Depends, Dad liked a challenge one year he just used glue to prove it could be done....we were still using that dinghy aobut 10 years later too.
I've watched him make them from clinker built with phosphor bronze rivets to marine ply and dowels. He just liked building boats.
Cheers,
Toddy

 

[WhichDoctor]

wow what a butte. I look forward to reading the article, always fancied making one. Till recently there was a old man who used a coracle on the river severn to pick up footballs from the local teams ground (witch is by the river). It always looked like fun, they are much more maneuverable than canoes or kayaks


What are you going to do for portage attach a strap or a yoke? The coracles that are made round here generally have yokes witch double as a seat or seats that double as a yoke with a forehead strap. But I have also seen them with just a forehead strap.

 

[chrisanson]

wow what a butte. I look forward to reading the article, always fancied making one. Till recently there was a old man who used a coracle on the river severn to pick up footballs from the local teams ground (witch is by the river). It always looked like fun, they are much more maneuverable than canoes or kayaks


What are you going to do for portage attach a strap or a yoke? The coracles that are made round here generally have yokes witch double as a seat or seats that double as a yoke with a forehead strap. But I have also seen them with just a forehead strap.

i have heard of this bloke but never seen him. is he at bridgnorth?
chris

 

[torjusg]

Preferably there should have been a seat, but with stone tools, making that would have taken a LOOONG time. So I left that feature out, more like the North American bull boat. I think I will carry it by tying the paddle to the coracle and having it on my back, with a strap attached to it and over my chest.

 

[sam_acw]

They seem really practical boats. Quicker to build than a canoe, easier to carry and they probably make a part shelter at the end of the journey too!
Check out this site coracle fishing - Maybe your next project should be the net!

 

[torjusg]

Brought the coracle down from the woods today, to keep it out of rain and away from the dogs. I will probably test it next weekend.

Sam

Yes, it would probably make an excellent shelter. As there are little salmon in my area I don't think I am going to make a salmon net. Maybe different type of net, but there are several projects higher on my priority list.

PS! I have already made a net, about 15m long and 1,5m deep. It isn't made from scratch, but commersial linen. And that is not good enough for me.

 

[BOD]

How do you paddle them and still go straight?

Sculling from the "bow end"?

 

[torjusg]

Unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity of testing it yet. Hopefully next week. It will be interesting to see how it handles in the water, though I have to make a paddle first. Just now it will be propelled by poling.

 

[torjusg]

Finally got to test it today. It is extremely tippy and a little low for my taste. From what I have read on http://www.coracle-fishing.net/ it seems like it has the handeling properties of the River Severn Bowl Coracle. I don't think I dare to fish from it until the waters become a little warmer next spring. As a remedy for it's tippyness I plan on maybe temporarily building it into a raft (at least for the colder seasons).

It held water the water out completely.

Picture of the boat from the inside:

Picture of me ashore. I am quite focused (read scared) here:

Staking, it was quite a lot deeper here than I thought...:

 

[pierre girard]

You're a braver man than I. Great looking craft - especially made with stone tools.

 

[torjusg]

You're a braver man than I. Great looking craft - especially made with stone tools.

Thank you Pierre! Very easy to make. In fact, I used very little tools at all, mostly breaking and tearing. Now all that is left is making a good paddle.

 

[spamel]

That looks to be very well made, maybe even slightly over engineered!! I wouldn't like to be in that in the winter where you are, one false slip and you may get a wee bit cold!!

I take it the frame is willow? It looks especially strong where you have used two ribs next to each other. Good to see you got it on the water at last. :You_Rock_

 

[stovie]

Fantastic Torjus. Made me smile to see you afloat. Bravo :You_Rock_

 

[torjusg]

Thanks guys

Spamel

The frame is made of rowan and bird cherry.

 

[JohnC]

very impressed! was the skin treated in any way other than oiling?

 

[torjusg]

very impressed! was the skin treated in any way other than oiling?

The skin hasn't been treated in any way, not even oiled.