Hi All

That's interesting??!
The pictures didn't come up on the yahoo page, but the bounced e-mail
that's on my screen now has. The pictures were of the staircase locks
when derelict and after renovation.

Steve

You must obtain your hide totally fresh to work on it straight away and put it
in the curing tank the same day,only freeze it after curing, but best to put it
over the coracle frame straight out of curing tank after rinsing,tie to frame
when dry.  One day in the water will not soften it,but two will and it can soak
up some water,but it dries out for the next day ,if you are using it daily.If
you wish to use it constantly,the best dressing is raw lanolin,but in a hot
country it will become sticky,which matters not ,keep it in the shade when not
in use.      It is also quite alright to paint with ordinary gloss paint a
completely dried hide to stop water retention,I know of one in constant use for
the last 20 years which was just painted,and it is fine.  If a hide,(as I have
mentioned recently) is cured so it is not raw,it lasts indefinately.   regards
Mr Q

Not to my knowledge. Darn ice age had the sea edge about 300 miles out
so all the good stuff's gone or inaccessible. We find an occasional
dugout in the swamps but mainly it's 19-20th century stuff, unless you
count the TREASURE ships! We were looking for a reported civil war
blockade runner this week.
Michael

Sent from my iPod

Some of us here in Texas are looking to make at least one coracle fairly soon. I
had heard the similar tale about the deteriorating hide and feared that would be
the case in our area. So, what would you recommend?  Can we use a chrome tanned
"cowhide rug" or should we somehow cure it a different way at home? A rug is
easy to get, but the size might be factor. A fresh hide is also common enough,
but it's hard to fit it in the fridge until I'm ready to work on it! I'm open to
suggestions.

Thanks,
Jeff



--- In coraclesociety@..., "stourcoracleman" <stourcoracleman@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Edwin Provided the hide is cured properly it will last indefinately
wherever it may be I have not heard of any problems related to climate.  rgs Mr
Q
>
> --- In coraclesociety@..., aeduin@ wrote:
> >
> > In the case of skin, isn't there a sort of boundary line of
> > latitude/temperature below which skin deteriorates too much? I know that
Paul  Johnstone
> > suggested this in his Sea-craft of Prehistory. Particularly for a boat  one
> > would hope to keep for a long time as opposed to the disposable bull boat
> > perhaps.
> >
> > As regards activity down here in Cornwall, the wind is 4-5 at the moment,
> > according to the sycamore tree's branches and the sea state I can see  from
> > the window. Very little action even from yachts at present.
> >
> > Edwin
> >
>

Having worked with store-bought rawhide I can't help but imagine the properties
are similar on the hides used on coracles. So I want to put some questions out
there:

Does the hide during use in the river water soak up water and get pliable?

Does that make it weaker, more easy to puncture?

What waterproofing/sealer should be used on hides, in any?





Jeff

Professional scientists are almost always a hoot in groups. I was out
doing underwater archeology Wednesday with some state archeologists.
They always have great stories. I look forward to following your
bronze age boat.
Michael

Sent from my iPod

In the real old days they had many choices, mastodon, giant sloths, horses (tgey
actually evolved on this continent if i recall correctly), huge deer and
dugongs. In more recent times they would have been limited to the manatee and
deer. The manatee hide would be perfect, much like an elephant seal but it would
be heavy.
How did your bronze sword workshop come out?
Michael
>
> What skins would they have used? Are there seals off the coast or large
> ruminants, big deer? I suppose a manatee would be more than big enough but
> what  sort of hide do they have?
>
> Edwin
>

Thank you.
No, the Seminoles used dugouts but they weren't the aboriginals around here. The
Calusa and others also used dugouts but my theory is that those were all later
adaptations, that skin boats followed reed rafts. Of course since all the
evidence would have rotted away we'll never know.
According to NOVA last week we've had stone tools and fire for close to 500,000
years now so we're talking a looooong way back.
Michael
>
> And, again, a lovely job you made of it. Interesting to hear of leather in
> Florida conditions. Any skin boats reported amongst the Seminoles or are
> all the  indigenous boats around there variations on the pirogue which is what
> I would  expect?
>
> Edwin
>

Well, I looked at canvas but the only stuff I could find was too narrow for my
hull. It was also heavy and the addition of tar would only add weight. The main
reason I looked at alternatives to tar was heat. The interior of my Land Cruiser
gets up about 120 deg F in the summer and I could just see that black tar oozing
all over everything. Remember, I'm in Florida. I didn't consider hide for weight
issues and I really like the look of the skin on frame kayaks. The material is
easy to work with, if you use patience, it's very very tough and it's light. My
boat's 18.5 # all up. It looks like a thin hide covered boat without the death
and tanning issues. Outside in Florida is not a good place for leather goods
that aren't in constant use.
I also wanted to try something not many folks had done and a ballistic nylon
coracle is definitely one of those.
Michael

Hi Edwin Provided the hide is cured properly it will last indefinately wherever
it may be I have not heard of any problems related to climate.  rgs Mr Q

--- In coraclesociety@..., aeduin@... wrote:
>
> In the case of skin, isn't there a sort of boundary line of
> latitude/temperature below which skin deteriorates too much? I know that Paul 
Johnstone
> suggested this in his Sea-craft of Prehistory. Particularly for a boat  one
> would hope to keep for a long time as opposed to the disposable bull boat
> perhaps.
>
> As regards activity down here in Cornwall, the wind is 4-5 at the moment,
> according to the sycamore tree's branches and the sea state I can see  from
> the window. Very little action even from yachts at present.
>
> Edwin
>

Hi Micheal
Those of us that go fishing for our food are paddling the year round,except when
there are gales of wind like at present.  The coracle in your photos looks a
fine craft,but why are you covering it with space age material when it is built
so traditionally,surely it should have strong canvas or hide,I highly recommend
hide as it is virtually puncture proof and most satisfying to do and use.    
regards   Mr Q

Well, that's the first time anything I've done has elicited a poem from anybody.
Thank you very much. Not sure about the "glass" as the skin's rather flexible
but "boat of plastic" just doesn't work does it? Told my wife it's the vegan
version of a skin coracle.
Thanks again. Too cold to paddle over there? Not much board activity.
Michael

There was a young man from Japan
Whose limericks they never would scan
When asked why this was
He said its because
I like to get as many syllables into the last line as I can

'Night
Edwin

A very neat piece of work, I do like translucent hulls. Forgive a tribute haiku.

Boat of glass on stream
Parts lilies by gentle touch.
Some they live the dream.


Edwin

I've posted a photo with the new skin. To be honest, it doesn't do it justice.
It's much darker in person but very hard to photograph since it's also
translucent. I took another in the shade but the opposite effect, looks darker
than it actually is.
I've a sample of the nylon to give to Steven if he lets me know when he's at
Disney :^).
Michael

Finally got some cool weather to put the ballistic skin on the Towy. Seems nylon
"relaxes" when it's cool so that's when you want to stretch it on. Stretching
and sewing went well but the dyeing and shrinking has a definite learning curve.
The brown came out mottled as I suspected it would so it has a nice cowhide
look. I put the urethane on today and, except for not having enough for a
uniform surface, it came out OK. The skin boat guys go for a shiny look but with
all the laths that would have been hard even if I did have enough resin. I'll
post a photo once I get the rubrails on. If anyone else wants to try contact me
and I'll give you a few hints that are coracle-specific as well as some not
covered by their tutorials.
Michael

Hi All

"She who must be obeyed" will have something to say about that.

Steve