Olias had been busy, and having sang his song the metallic-like trees with their golden leaves jingling like winter snow, had motioned their strong roots to slowly dance out of position towards Olias to create the frame of the ship. With spread-eagled wings and high masts with enough room for all, it stood, near ready, it needed only to be strengthened and covered and it was for the fish of the ocean the solar to do. Olias reached out with voice and sound to ease them from their play. As intertwined and inter moving parts of the ocean rose into the air glistening in the quick wind, they rushed expectantly toward the frame and crashed their forms and clasped and died as all will: The Moorglade was ready.

From Tales of Olias of  Sunhillow  ( CD 7567-80273-2 ) a mythical musical boat builder.      Jon Anderson 1976

Build a boat - Learn a Craft

The first types of boats built were often made from woven sticks covered with animal or sealskins.
Over the centuries the use of tools and the weaving of cloth for these simple craft developed and most are now made from split or sawn timber, covered with woven cotton or flax and water proofed with tar.
Such boats are still built and in use all over the globe -today they are typically used for fishing, transport and to link settlements.
Coracles, curraghs, kayaks and canoes are built from locally sourced materials using skills, which are relatively easily learnt.
There is a growing interest in building and using replicas of these ethnic craft. Building and paddling, rowing or sailing these boats develop skills and promote social interactivity, using these boats is good exercise and gives a sense well-being and safety, they are a link back to our early ancestors and great fun!
            

Build / Buy a boat.

Coracles are often attributed to the rivers of the south west of England and Wales but they are also typical craft of Ireland and Scotland, the Middle and Far East.
The boats we make are based on the type of craft from the river Severn, they are stable, easy to paddle and will fit into most hatch back type cars.
Many of our coracles are sold to people with small lakes or ponds, the smallest stretch of water can be an adventure in a coracle.
Made from sawn ash and covered with cotton or flax canvas and tarred; the frames are oiled to resist rot.

As the quest to replace petrochemical based resins, glassfibres with ecologically sound and biodegradable alternatives gains pace, we are delighted with the results we have achieved using linseed resin on flax fabrics.
Although early days, it appears that the resin coated covers will equal if not outlast that of tars, is unlikely to become brittle with time or in frosty weather. The resin is cured by UV light - ideally sunlight -and is a delight to use. Other than a slight degree of yellowing, which is expected with linseed oils, it remains clear enabling the colour and structure of the fabric to be viewed in addition to the cover being translucent when using light linens. When used on heaver flax fabrics which are the normal for curachs and coracles, the resin allows the natural weave and colour to be viewed and are fully waterproof.
Skin and cloth covered boats along with dugout canoes were the first boats built it therefore seems fitting that the versions of these ethnic craft are amongst the first to make use of these new technologies and that the use of these new resins will soon be a part of every day composite construction.

Build your own coracle over two days.

Coracle courses 2010

The timber laths will be pre-cut and no power tools are necessary. Building the seat, gunwhale, weaving the frame and bending the wood to make the main structure normally takes one day.  Supporting the seat, covering with canvas and fitting the inner/outer gunwales; instructions on use and having a lesson in one of our own coracles takes the remaining second day.
Tar paint requires time to dry and two coats - this is best done at home and paint is supplied, as is a paddle and safety instructions etc.

The purchase price for a ready built coracle is £235 excluding delivery. If you choose to come along and build your own coracle there is an additional £50 charge(per basic coracle) you can build it yourself or bring a friend to help you. Lunch, tea, coffee is supplied and we can let you know of suitable accommodation.

Coracles can be individualised with carving or different designs at an additional cost please contact us with your thoughts.

We are also developing a kit boat for home build  - an open type canoe, wooden framed covered in canvas, the ideal boat to develop from a coracle - more to follow.

Watch us rowing at Clovelly on YouTube

email: salmonboats@yahoo.co.uk

Copyright Court of the Silver King 2007