- they might not be perfect, but as long as the boat holds together .........
The galvanised panel pins substituting for gimp
pins don't seem to have been a problem so far, but just as I was
beginning to think that having got the ash laths, a seat, calico
and paint, that I was ready to start, it occurred to me that
maybe a little bit of planning would help.
With the aid of some scribbled diagrams and a bit of basic
trigonometry that I'd hardly used since school, I started working
out how long each of the various laths needed to be for the
various parts of the coracle.
For the crosswise ones, the seven foot laths that I had were more
than adequate, but the lengthwise ones really needed to be a bit
longer, and the diagonals definitely needed to be at least eight feet.
I knew enough about carpentry to know that sticking two laths
together end-on probably wouldn't work very well!
I phoned my ash-man again.
"Yes, I can certainly do you some ten foot laths. Next Saturday
okay?"
Another thirty five pounds later, I had what seemed like loads
of ash - enough to make two coracles?
A local friend was catching our enthusiasm and said that she
fancied making a coracle as well, so it didn't look too expensive
after all.
At last I thought, I've got all I need to start work! .....