Model shore seine fishing boat locally named in Sri Lanka as mā-dӓl-pāru or madel paruwa. Flat bottomed hull formed of three planks sewn together with a chine strake and one vertical washstrake sewn either side. The planks are fastened with linking stitches in a cross pattern followed by a vertical stitch over caulking in the interior of the hull. The model contains thwarts, two ‘end boards’ (transverse planks at bow and stern), a roof made from leaves and two raised sections in the washstrakes either side with holes bored in. These holes could be used to attach a transverse lifting beam to carry the vessel onto the beach.
Mā-dӓl-pāru’s are used in beach seining along the west, south and northeast coasts of Sri Lanka. The main characteristics of this vessel are the chine strakes, the transverse lifting beam and the sewn method of fastening. Other variants of these vessels can be seen on a stretch of coast south of Colombo where a single outrigger float attached with two curved booms is employed. These boats are generally rowed but can be poled in shallow waters and are steered with a paddle or oar.
