Abstract:
This paper concerns the so-called
"catamarans" often considered archetypal Sri
Lankan craft. These are of great antiquity
although their age can only be guessed. The
vernacular form evolved from the available
bio-resources and the nature of inshore
waters. The craft were made only of wood
with all fastenings being, by choice, of
coconut coir rope ,Ai a common Indian Ocean
till technology till comparatively recently.
They were dual-element craft, comprising of
dug-out hull connected to outrigger float by
spars. The entire craft was "flexible" and thus
could cope with surf-induced torque. The hull
being a monoxylon, its tough, rounded
bottom could withstand frequent abrasion
from crossing sand spits and being hauled up
the beach. It was essentially a "skimming"
craft, without a displacement hull and, hence,
completely different from the doubleoutrigger
craft of south-east Asia and
Madagascar and the east African coast. Its
origin can, perhaps, be linked to those of
Oceania. The Sri Lankan craft remained
unchanged for what must have been
millennia. In the last quarter of the last
century, changes manifested themselves: the
gradual use of iron nails; the increasing use of
GRP and of nylon cordage; the use of
outboard motors and the consequent
morphological changes such as the
substitution for the double-ended
configuration of a fixed bow and stern and
others. The reasons for change included
deforestation, changing priorities in life, cost
of manufacture, loss of skills etc. that are
dealt with in the paper. An important aspect
is that, even the use of new materials and
techniques has not changed the basic dual-element
form of the craft. This apparent
contradiction raises a fundamental question:
when, in the course of transition, does a
vernacular form cease to be vernacular? This
paper is the first attempt to record the
process of the ongoing transition of these
craft.
