Coracle
Newer construction coracles on the River Teifi in Wales (1972)
A coracle ( Welsh cwrwgl ) is a very small keelless boat, primarily for inland waters. The wicker vehicle, usually built for one person, is usually oval or circular in shape. The hull is covered with a skin or tarpaulin . It was used by poor part-time fishermen in Wales as well as other parts of the British Isles.
The oval hull resembles a walnut shell . In the past, the outer skin consisted of an animal skin (e.g. from a horse or cattle) that had been coated with tar . Today, resilient textiles (such as calico or linen), including glass fiber reinforced plastic, are used.
There are boats of a similar design in other parts of the world, for which the English term has established itself in literature.
See also
Web links
Commons : Coracles - Collection of images, videos and audio files
- Historical note from the Coracle Society of Wales ( June 1, 2006 memento in the Internet Archive )
- Brief history and design principles by the Lough Neagh Boating Heritage Association ( Memento of November 24, 2007 in the Internet Archive )