Making Stuff from Stuff - A Coracle

I've always been a keen kayaker and for some weeks now I've fancied the idea of making a coracle. The medieval fishing boat made from wood and cloth or skins (for the 'purists' out there, please don't hate me for using some modern materials, tools and techniques. lol)
Music from: www.bensound.com

[@davidprocter3578]

great hospital corners and sewn too, not bad at all , matron would be pleased. 😀

[@teawithq3351]

If you're interested in having a go It's 1.1m wide by 1.4m long and 0.3m deep. 3.6mm plywood sheets 1.8m by 0.6m (2 of those), timber for the seat was 144mm by 1.8m and 20mm thick with legs 45m by 45mm square and 280mm in length each. 16mm by 4.8mm pop rivets (lots), Exterior waterproof wood stain and bitumen paint. The Calico - 2m by 4m was from the internet but everything else I got in Wickes DIY (other DIY stores are available lol). Have fun.

[@bluemoondiadochi]

Thank you for the tip on the bitumen paint! I've been racking my head hot to waterproof my (soon-to-be - hopefully!) coracle i'm building from (waste and found in nature) materials.

[@piersrichings2998]

Great. Mine needs recovering. This was very helpful. Thanks.

[@teawithq3351]

Yes I've reapplied bitumen a couple of times since. These things do need ongoing maintenance. Glad it was helpful.

[@stewartmarshall4112]

Very nice job of it. Well done!

[@teawithq3351]

Thankyou. It was a lot of fun. 😁

[@alvarokerosene6257]

You have done a great work mu friend, congratulations

[@teawithq3351]

Bless you and thank you

[@thornwarbler]

Superb, mate ..........Cheers

[@teawithq3351]

Thank you.

[@ilikeitwhenitssunny7067]

This is brilliant

[@teawithq3351]

Thank you so much!

[@saudade2745]

Hi, great vid and build. What's your opinion on the wickes bitumen paint? I have a coracle that needs doing but unsure whether to go for wickes 2.5l or Everbuild 1L from Amazon and save a few quid.

[@teawithq3351]

Thanks. Absolutely fine mate. I use it on flat roofing without any trouble too

[@youareamazingyesyou5880]

Hi, really enjoyed your video, thanks. Im thinking of making one too. May i ask you a few qk questions?, do u think i should soak the wooden strips first? And if so, for how long?would i then use them wet and let the whole frame dry? You then painted the frame... was that with boat varnish? Thankyou

[@teawithq3351]

Hi, thanks for watching. I thought about soaking the 'laths', however as they were strips of ply-wood they'd be likely to de-laminate and fall to pieces if they were soaked I think. They really are quite flexible anyway. I painted the frame with external wood stain (satin) that I had laying around. My thought was to weatherproof it to some extent just to keep any water from penetrating the edges of the ply-wood. Hope this helps. Please feel free to ask anything you like. Love to help.

[@youareamazingyesyou5880]

@@teawithq3351 Thanks a million. When you were putting calico on, did u just stretch it as tight as you could, before stapling it. A person i spoke to recently said they found that to be the hardest part... getting the skin to stretch and be really taut

[@teawithq3351]

@@youareamazingyesyou5880 Tbh I didn't find it that difficult really. I just made sure there were no creases anywhere except the corners where I needed to sew them. I found putting the calico on quite enjoyable actually as it started to look like a boat!... at last.

[@youareamazingyesyou5880]

@@teawithq3351 great thankyou

[@teawithq3351]

@@youareamazingyesyou5880 Thankyou too. Please subscribe if you haven't already.

[@youareamazingyesyou5880]

Hi, sorry i just saw your comments below about materials, thanx. So its just about the soaking of the wood strips... do u think i shud? Does that strengthen them at all? Thanks

[@teawithq3351]

I wouldn't in all honesty. I don't think they need it.

[@njoyingtube1]

Figure of eight will will keep you straight , moving with the times , Even my old mate met in the early nineties , BERNARD THOMAS .. The Cardigan Coracle man would Have Complimented you. On that fine crafted CORACLE.. IF you didn't know him check him out , think you'll be surprised , thanks for the idea.

[@teawithq3351]

Thanks very much. I've used it quite a bit.

[@teawithq3351]

BERNARD THOMAS 'The Coracle King'