Madras catamaran
The Madras catamaran is a small Indian raft type. Despite the name, it is not a catamaran , but a raft .
history
The name Madras catamaran has its roots in the original Tamil meaning of the word catamaran, which describes a boat made of tree trunks tied together. The raft type has been widespread on the Indian coromandel coast for centuries and is mainly used for fishing until the very recent modern times.
Construction
The Madras catamarans consist of several roughly hewn logs tied together lengthways. The middle trunk is lower, while the side trunks are a little higher on the sides. In the front area, some pieces of wood are tied to the raft in such a way that they point upwards at an angle and form a simple kind of stern that protects against splashing water or waves coming over them. The oars traditionally used for propulsion are also worth mentioning, as they are made of curved wood with an angled edge that serves as a handle.
literature
- Bathe, BW: Ship Models, 4: Foreign Small Craft . Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London 1966.