We were down at the dock getting some footage of the new Greenland kayak when this brand new Currach rowed up. I was aware that it was being built because I did a little bit of consulting on the skinning process, but I didn’t think I was going to have a chance to see it before it traveled to a different place.
19 feet long and 42 inches wide, this is Joe‘s third Currach, and you can see that he’s really getting the hang of building them!
Arguably the most seaworthy rowboats ever built, Currachs were used by fisherman in the fierce seas on the West coast of Ireland, and there is evidence of them being used by the Scottish as well. They were originally covered with animal hides and later fabric and tar. This currach is covered with nylon and polyurethane tinted with black pigment. It weighs 130 pounds.
Despite the blunt and bulky appearance, the rounded bottom presents a very narrow water line making these swifter than they look and quite nimble.
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