Fishing Craft Technology

Unit 1 - History and development of fishing craft

1.4.4. Fishing boats of Tamil Nadu
Four regions can be distinguished along the coast of Tamil Nadu, each region having fishing craft with specific features Colachel to Cape Comorin

1) Boat catamaran

• It is made of three logs, the centre one fitted at a lower level than the other two giving it a boat
• shape.
• The logs are held by means of two blocks of wood on either end and secured by coir ropes
• passing through the grooves on the side of the logs.
• Size varies from 6.5 – 7.5 m
• Small triangular sail is used
• Normally operated in pairs for boat seiners

2) Boat canoe (Vallam)

• Similar to Malabar dugout but spread by wedges and heightened by flared 22-25 cm wash
• strakes.
• Length varies from 9-13 m
• Single mast at amidships with lug sail. In larger ones, mizzen mast is also carried.
• Large rudder is fitted which descends much below the round bottom.
• Used for operation of gill nets and long lines.

3) Tuticorin boat

• It measures 9.6 x 2.0 x 0.9 m
• Long, relatively narrow with nearly vertical stem and stern
• Sheer line is almost straight.
• Single mast with lug sail
• Frames are not carried up to the gunwale but cut away at the sheer plank. The upper most
• planks are framed with a separate short piece not fastened to the main frame.

4) Kilakaral boat

• It is similar to Malabar dugout with additional vertical stakes.
• Provided with either one or two out riggers for stability
• Single mast with lug sail
• Use temporary rudder fixed at the sharp curved stern by orthodox pintle and gudgeon

5) Fishing Canoe

• Hull is either a dugout or plank built canoe
• Single mast with square headed lug

6) Adirampatnam fishing canoe

• Hull is a dugout canoe with wash strakes
• There is a pair of quarter steering boards instead of fixed rudder.
• Single mast, occasionally three masts are used
• For steering the boat, quarter boards are manipulated with feet by steer man sitting at the aft
• The balance board is exceptionally long.

7)Three masted plank built canoe

• Three masts are present

8) Kalla Dhoni

• Heavy transom stern
• Carries the largest and heaviest balance board
• Rigged with three masts and lug sails

9) Coromandal coast

• Catamaran
• Masula boat

10) Catamaran

• Made up of 1-1.6 m logs tied together raft wise. The logs are cut square at the stern and
• tapered at the bow with a little raise.
• The logs do not end in one line at the aft
• Bamboo mast is used with triangular sail. Five types are identified mostly depending upon the
• number of logs used.

11) Periyamaram

• 8 m long and 1 m wide consisting of 4 logs
• Middle pair project 1.2 m beyond outer logs

12) Irukumaram

• Made up of five logs, middle being the longest
• Used for gill net fishing

13) Kolamaram

• Made up of seven logs
• Two masts are used.

14) Thundilmaram

• Made of five logs without beaked prow

15) Chinnanaram

• Made of three logs

16) Masula boat

• Size measures 9 x 2.4 x 1.2 m
• Open boats without ribs
• Planks are sewn with coir rope and inter space is filled with dry straw
• Stem and stern are raked, keel narrow
• High free board
• No mast or sail, long paddles are used
• Used for operation of shore seiners.

Colachel to cape Comorin is a surf beaten coast where boat catamarans are popular. Gulf of mannar is also surf-beaten coasts with sheltered areas and coral beds. Fishing grounds are far away. In this region, boat canoe, boat catamaran, Tuticorin and Kilakarai boats are in operation. Though the physical conditions are similar in palkbay fishing craft operating are different. Popular craft in palk bay are fishing canoe, Adiram patnam canoe three masted plank-built canoe and kalla dhoni. Coromandel coast is surf beaten without shelter. Here surf landing catamarans and flexible, masula boats are predominant.