how to make a coracle − 30 May, 1995
A few years before my dad died we went on a course together in mid Wales and each made a coracle with Tim Wade. I had just been given my first digital camera by Apple, a very low-res affair by today's standards, but at the time I was very excited by the possibilities of digitally documenting it presented. I took a picture at each stage of making the coracle so I could make it into a multimedia presentation and post it on the web. I wrote the text as soon as I got back home to explain the process to my (then) primary age children, but It's taken a bit longer than I had expected to get it online. Here it is now, better late than never, my first digital photo storyline.
Introduction
My Dad likes to make things. He has a workshop in the garage. He is always building something. Chairs, tables, doll's houses, model boats, he can make anything. One day last year my Dad met Tim Wade at a craft fair. Tim teaches people to make coracles at his Woodland Skills Centre in Wales. My Dad had never made a real boat. After he met Tim he wanted to make his own coracle. I like to make things too but I haven't got a proper workshop. When Dad told me about Tim's coracles I wanted to make one as well. Last summer we both went to Wales to make and float our own boats.
Tim's Woodland Centre
The Woodland Skills Centre is quite hard to find. You have to go a long way down a single track lane. The centre is on the edge of a hill in a clearing in the woods. The first thing you notice is that Tim's workshop is outside. The next thing you notice is that everything is made from wood. The main workshop does have a roof but it is open on all sides. If you look carefully at the picture you can see that there is a chair on the roof. We never did find out why it was there. There is also a covered eating area with benches, a table and a campfire. This is where we had our lunch and lots of tea breaks.
All About Coracles
Coracles are small oval shaped boats made from thin strips of wood. The wood is woven together like a basket and then covered with canvas. To make the boat waterproof the canvas is covered with tar. Coracles have been used to catch fish in Welsh rivers for thousands of years. They are very light and can be carried down to the river on your back. You only need one oar to paddle a coracle. There are only a few "working" coracles left in Wales today.
Stage 1. Making the seat
The first thing we had to do was to make a seat for the coracle. This is the main part of the boat and everything else is nailed to it. To help us out, Tim had cut out all the pieces we needed. We had to screw everything together firmly and then nail on the thin struts. Tim called this bit a fish trap. He said it would keep the fish in the back of the boat away from our feet when were paddling around.
Stage 2. Bending the frame
Once the seat was finished we turned it upside down on the bench. We then wrapped two thin strips of wood around the front and back of the seat to form the oval shape of the boat.The wood we used was called Ash. It was cut into very thin strips. Tim had soaked it in water to make it even more bendy. Even so, everyone managed to break some strips as they tried to bend them to shape.
Stage 3. Weaving the frame
When we had formed the main shape of the boat we had to weave in other thin strips to make up the sides. Each strip had to go under and over the next, just like a great big basket. When all the strips were in place we had to nail them down and saw off the ends. To make sure there were no problems with splinters, we had to smooth down the edges of the struts with glass-paper.
Stage 4. Covering with canvas
Covering the frame with canvas was the most difficult part. We started in the middle and worked round the boat, pulling the canvas as tight as it would go. We tacked it into place around the top frame. Then we had to form pleats at the front and back of the boat to get rid of all the wrinkles. Each pleat had to be stitched up with strong thread.
Stage 5. Painting with tar
Finally we painted each coracle with special tar. This was very messy. We had to make sure we covered all the holes. Each coat took an hour or so to dry. We had to put on three coats to make sure the boat was water proof. While we were waiting for the tar to dry we each made an oar. Tim had cut out rough outlines in green wood and we then had to plane these to shape.
Floating a Coracle
Coracles are really light. You can easily carry them on your back. When ours were finished we took them to a local river to try them out. We soon found out that making coracles is much easier than floating them. The first problem is getting into the boat. Because it is so small and light it wobbles around like mad. You have to hold it steady with one hand and one foot and slide in very carefully. The next problem is paddling. You have to make the oar go in a figure of eight to pull the boat forward. This takes some practice too. Once you get the hang of it coracles are a great way to get around on water.
Introduction
My Dad likes to make things. He has a workshop in the garage. He is always building something. Chairs, tables, doll's houses, model boats, he can make anything. One day last year my Dad met Tim Wade at a craft fair. Tim teaches people to make coracles at his Woodland Skills Centre in Wales. My Dad had never made a real boat. After he met Tim he wanted to make his own coracle. I like to make things too but I haven't got a proper workshop. When Dad told me about Tim's coracles I wanted to make one as well. Last summer we both went to Wales to make and float our own boats.
Tim's Woodland Centre
The Woodland Skills Centre is quite hard to find. You have to go a long way down a single track lane. The centre is on the edge of a hill in a clearing in the woods. The first thing you notice is that Tim's workshop is outside. The next thing you notice is that everything is made from wood. The main workshop does have a roof but it is open on all sides. If you look carefully at the picture you can see that there is a chair on the roof. We never did find out why it was there. There is also a covered eating area with benches, a table and a campfire. This is where we had our lunch and lots of tea breaks.
All About Coracles
Coracles are small oval shaped boats made from thin strips of wood. The wood is woven together like a basket and then covered with canvas. To make the boat waterproof the canvas is covered with tar. Coracles have been used to catch fish in Welsh rivers for thousands of years. They are very light and can be carried down to the river on your back. You only need one oar to paddle a coracle. There are only a few "working" coracles left in Wales today.
Stage 1. Making the seat
The first thing we had to do was to make a seat for the coracle. This is the main part of the boat and everything else is nailed to it. To help us out, Tim had cut out all the pieces we needed. We had to screw everything together firmly and then nail on the thin struts. Tim called this bit a fish trap. He said it would keep the fish in the back of the boat away from our feet when were paddling around.
Stage 2. Bending the frame
Once the seat was finished we turned it upside down on the bench. We then wrapped two thin strips of wood around the front and back of the seat to form the oval shape of the boat.The wood we used was called Ash. It was cut into very thin strips. Tim had soaked it in water to make it even more bendy. Even so, everyone managed to break some strips as they tried to bend them to shape.
Stage 3. Weaving the frame
When we had formed the main shape of the boat we had to weave in other thin strips to make up the sides. Each strip had to go under and over the next, just like a great big basket. When all the strips were in place we had to nail them down and saw off the ends. To make sure there were no problems with splinters, we had to smooth down the edges of the struts with glass-paper.
Stage 4. Covering with canvas
Covering the frame with canvas was the most difficult part. We started in the middle and worked round the boat, pulling the canvas as tight as it would go. We tacked it into place around the top frame. Then we had to form pleats at the front and back of the boat to get rid of all the wrinkles. Each pleat had to be stitched up with strong thread.
Stage 5. Painting with tar
Finally we painted each coracle with special tar. This was very messy. We had to make sure we covered all the holes. Each coat took an hour or so to dry. We had to put on three coats to make sure the boat was water proof. While we were waiting for the tar to dry we each made an oar. Tim had cut out rough outlines in green wood and we then had to plane these to shape.
Floating a Coracle
Coracles are really light. You can easily carry them on your back. When ours were finished we took them to a local river to try them out. We soon found out that making coracles is much easier than floating them. The first problem is getting into the boat. Because it is so small and light it wobbles around like mad. You have to hold it steady with one hand and one foot and slide in very carefully. The next problem is paddling. You have to make the oar go in a figure of eight to pull the boat forward. This takes some practice too. Once you get the hang of it coracles are a great way to get around on water.
woodland craft centre
stage 1. make the seat
stage 2. bending the...
stage 3. weaving the...
stage 3. trimming the...
stage 4. covering with...
stage 4. covering with...
stage 4. stitching the...
stage 5. painting with...
floating a coracle
