Key details

Current boat name
Tamil Nadu parisal
Boat class
6957
Function
Cargo
Type
Basket

Dimensions and specifications

Length (m / ft)
1.77 / 5ft 10in
Beam (m / ft)
1.77 / %ft 10in

Design and build

Place of build
Tamil Nadu

Current status

Present use
Store

History

Parisal coracle on display at Cardiff. A round open boat is obviously not intended for the open sea or for speed. What is less obvious is that the circle encloses the largest area possible for a given perimeter. A round boat, provided the water is calm, is therefore the cheapest form of construction for a small cargo-boat, since it contains the greatest cargo space for the minimum of material. Cost is important because these forms of boats are, in Iraq for example, used for one down stream voyage only. The boats are then sold as fuel. This Parisal comes from the river Cauvery in Tamil Nadu (Southern India)where It would have been used for cargo and passengers. The craft is made from a split bamboo frame covered with a patchwork of polypropylene sacks coated with tar.. Very good example of basket boat constuction. Sold at EISCA Auction 26/07/2017 to Private owner