BAMBOO CORACLE

BAMBOO CORACLE, BAMBOO BOAT

The basket boat is a rudimentary fishing tool of the fishermen. No matter what region, no part of the sea. Baskets have been associated with the lives of the people in the Central region who have been clinging to the sea for a long time. Rude but close, pieces of the soul of the people of the same sea.

Characteristics and uses of the basket boat

The use of bamboo basket boats is beneficial in many different ways:

-Need to go to the river to catch seafood near the shore

-Used to serve as a means of moving water in tourist areas

-Used to make flower decorations in cafes, parks or need to decorate seafood in restaurants,

– Used as a container.

Using a basket boat does not require many people. Each boat out to sea can only bear the weight of one or two users. The basket boat cannot go far out in the middle of the vast sea, but it is quite convenient to use it for fishing near the shore, it does not take too much effort to operate the boat, mainly catching during the day with fishermen who are used to small fishing.

Features of the basket boat.

In order to make a bamboo basket boat, the craftsman must have skillful techniques, make it entirely by hand, have many years of experience, choose a special suitable bamboo that is neither old nor too young. Then carefully polished bamboo, from bamboo fibers and bamboo splints to make the rim of the basket are made by the hands of the craftsman, without the support of any machinery, so the worker can ensure the level of quality. uniform thickness, suitable flexibility of basket boat. 

The reason why the mysterious beast is not waterproof and durable is partly due to the work of the craftsman’s hand in the bamboo weaving process. For each bamboo thread that is knitted, the craftsman will use the right and hammer to contribute the bamboo fibers together. Bamboo basket boat is built by skilled craftsman The traditional rim is specially selected bamboo species, beautiful and with equal hardness and flexibility. Each basket boat has 6 to 7 bamboo rims arranged closely together and tied with solid copper steel wire, hard to break and not rust. In order for the basket boat not to be soaked in water, the workers use specialized materials to seal the gaps of the basket boat. 

The first layer is cow manure mixed with finely ground sawdust powder. Surely many of you have heard it, it seems strange, right? But in fact, according to the experience of skilled workers, this mixture works very well in the role of sealing gaps in the dark sky, which is a more certain coordinate for the boat. In addition, the worker also added a layer of asphalt and a layer of vegetarian oil to protect and completely waterproof the core of the basket boat. When applying such a layer, the worker must wait for the previous layer of mixture to dry before applying the next layer. That way, the new basket boat is sure and the protective layer is completely dry. From the stage of mastering raw materials to becoming the finished product, it takes about 5-7 days for a skilled craftsman, the boat builder is like a talented artist.

• Vietnam is the only land where coracles remain in widespread use and continue to serve a significant economic function.
• The Vietnamese coracle is a true basket boat. Construction begins by erecting a round gunwale of split bamboo on top of short posts driven into the ground, so that the gunwale is supported at its ultimate height above the bottom.
• Sizes range from 1.2 to 3 meters in diameter, with depths from about 50cm to a maximum of about 72cm. Almost all are perfectly round, but a few oval ones have been reported, one measuring 3 X 4.5 meters.
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