cora:coracles

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cora:coracles [2025/12/06 15:55] – Dave Darbycora:coracles [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Coracles & currachs+This topic is part of [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]]. 
 +====== Coracles & currachs ======
  
  
-![](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/coracle-main-pic.jpg)+![Coracles](wiki:coracles.jpg)
  
 --- ---
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-## What are coracles and currachs?+===== What are coracles and currachs? =====
  
 Coracles (or currachs in Ireland) are keel-less, bowl-shaped boats that were developed for fishing in shallow water or fast-flowing streams. It's a very simple boat that has been made in different ways around the world for thousands of years. In Britain and Ireland they were used in river estuaries to catch migratory fish such as salmon, sea trout and eels. Today, only a little coracle fishing is done in Wales on the rivers Teifi, Tywi and Taf. Near Welsh rivers around 200 years ago, a coracle would be found hanging outside almost every cottage door. The word coracle is an anglicised version of the Welsh word _gwrwgl_. Coracles (or currachs in Ireland) are keel-less, bowl-shaped boats that were developed for fishing in shallow water or fast-flowing streams. It's a very simple boat that has been made in different ways around the world for thousands of years. In Britain and Ireland they were used in river estuaries to catch migratory fish such as salmon, sea trout and eels. Today, only a little coracle fishing is done in Wales on the rivers Teifi, Tywi and Taf. Near Welsh rivers around 200 years ago, a coracle would be found hanging outside almost every cottage door. The word coracle is an anglicised version of the Welsh word _gwrwgl_.
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 <caption> <caption>
-A coracle in use. Pic: Alistair Phillips +_A coracle in use. Pic: Alistair Phillips_
 </caption> </caption>
  
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 <caption> <caption>
-An episode about Irish currach-makers from the 1970s (with footage from the 1930s at 1:28)+_An episode about Irish currach-makers from the 1970s (with footage from the 1930s at 1:28)_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-A fishing net like this was traditionally held between two coracles.+_A fishing net like this was traditionally held between two coracles._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What are the benefits of coracles and currachs?+===== What are the benefits of coracles and currachs? =====
  
 Coracle fishing is an excellent, natural, pollution-free way of obtaining food. The benefits of coracles themselves is that they are: Coracle fishing is an excellent, natural, pollution-free way of obtaining food. The benefits of coracles themselves is that they are:
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 <caption> <caption>
-Giving the calico its first coat of waterproofing bitumen.+_Giving the calico its first coat of waterproofing bitumen._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Building a coracle in a workshop; the gunwale is the strip around the top, to which all the other strips and the seat are connected. Pic: Alistair Phillips+_Building a coracle in a workshop; the gunwale is the strip around the top, to which all the other strips and the seat are connected. Pic: Alistair Phillips_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 You can make your own coracle, and you can use it for leisure, for fishing with a rod, or for laying eel traps. You’re going to find it very difficult to obtain a licence to fish using coracles and a net, as it is severely restricted in the UK (see below), and will continue to be for the near future at least. You can make your own coracle, and you can use it for leisure, for fishing with a rod, or for laying eel traps. You’re going to find it very difficult to obtain a licence to fish using coracles and a net, as it is severely restricted in the UK (see below), and will continue to be for the near future at least.
  
-### Building a coracle+==== Building a coracle ====
  
 If you’re going to make a coracle from sawn ash (Shrewsbury style), you need to make sure it’s good quality – straight-grained with no knots - ‘sporting quality’, as it’s referred to at sawmills. Start with the seat, nail the gunwale (rim) to it, then fit legs underneath the seat. Then turn the whole thing upside down and start nailing on the cross-strips. The strips need to be bent to shape, and this is done using boiling water. If you’re going to make a coracle from sawn ash (Shrewsbury style), you need to make sure it’s good quality – straight-grained with no knots - ‘sporting quality’, as it’s referred to at sawmills. Start with the seat, nail the gunwale (rim) to it, then fit legs underneath the seat. Then turn the whole thing upside down and start nailing on the cross-strips. The strips need to be bent to shape, and this is done using boiling water.
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 <caption> <caption>
-A speedy visual 'step-by-step' of how to make a coracle.+_A speedy visual 'step-by-step' of how to make a coracle._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Attaching a PVC cover to a coracle base. Pic: Alistair Phillips+_Attaching a PVC cover to a coracle base. Pic: Alistair Phillips_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Using a coracle+==== Using a coracle ====
  
 Coracles are paddled one-handed, allowing one hand free for the net. The paddle rests against the shoulder and it moves in an 'S' shape in the water. As one side of the paddle is curved, there is suction (the same principle as an aeroplane wing), and the coracle is actually sucked forward. Paddles were traditionally carved from one piece of ash, but a simpler paddle can be made from a piece of ply slotted into a broom handle. You don’t get the suction with this type of paddle though. Coracles are paddled one-handed, allowing one hand free for the net. The paddle rests against the shoulder and it moves in an 'S' shape in the water. As one side of the paddle is curved, there is suction (the same principle as an aeroplane wing), and the coracle is actually sucked forward. Paddles were traditionally carved from one piece of ash, but a simpler paddle can be made from a piece of ply slotted into a broom handle. You don’t get the suction with this type of paddle though.
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 <caption> <caption>
-A traditional paddle (left) and a more modern, flat paddle, next to an upturned home-made coracle.+_A traditional paddle (left) and a more modern, flat paddle, next to an upturned home-made coracle._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-How it used to be: Welsh fishermen with coracles and salmon.+_How it used to be: Welsh fishermen with coracles and salmon._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/bushcraft). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [Coracle Society](https://www.coraclesociety.org.uk/) - [Coracle Society](https://www.coraclesociety.org.uk/)
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-## Specialists+ 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [Fishing](fish:fishing) 
 +- [Bushcraft](bush:bushcraft) 
 +- [Craft production](craf:craft) 
 +- [Canoes & kayaks](cano:canoes) 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • cora/coracles.1765036513.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/06 15:55
  • by Dave Darby