The Cheops ship, found by the pyramid of that name and 5000 years old was, like all early planked boats, held together with stitches, not nails - for nails had not been invented. Stitched boats have been found in many parts of the world but it is now a fast dying practice.

This particularly graceful boat is rapidly dying out as plywood, screws and glass-fibre take over. This new generation is cheaper, stronger and lighter and is therefore better.

On the inside of the boat the stitches incorporate a padding running the full length of the joined planks to assist with the watertightness of the boat. On the outside of the hull grooves are cut into which the thread (in this case coconut twine - sennet) is sunk in order to protect it from chafing.

Being long and narrow the Tenku Vallam is not really a sailing boat though it carries a large lateen sail for use in light airs but is unlikely to be able to sail against the wind. The inability is evidently of little concern to the fisherman of the Kerala coast or they would certainly have developed a boat that could, for they have the knowledge and the skill.

We are greatly indebted to Mr E. W. H. 'Giff' Gifford and the Fishermen Community Development Programme for obtaining these boats for us and to P&OCL for a considerable reduction in the freight charges in shipping them from Cochin.

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Vikranth

Fishing

Tenku Vallam

Unknown

India

Kerala