Member Masterclass & Raft Race: Coracle Building

Member Events

Join the Institute of Making Raft Race crew and spend three days building a glorious fleet of coracles before spending a fourth and final daycompeting in (and winning, ahem) the annual London Makespace raft race in the Regents Canal!

In this Masterclass, Kevin and Ellen Grimley will show us how to build these traditional riverboats, which are round in shape, paddled with one oar and have been used since primitive times. They are made by hand with a wooden basket-like frame and are traditionally covered with animal hide, but more recently in canvas or synthetic materials coated with bitumen or tar to make them waterproof. Generally, British coracles carry a single person and are light enough to be carried on a person’s back for transportation

Kevin Grimley is a carpenter and has been making coracles for twelve years. His first experience building the vessel affected him on a number of levels; as a carpenter he appreciated the care and craftsmanship that goes into building such a vessel. He also appreciated becoming aware of the historical and spiritual symbolism of the coracle – of travel, adventure, uncertainty, danger, and excitement – and that it is never a finished project, but requires time, patience and hard work, attitudes of life that he holds in respect.