Alumkadavu, a small village near Karunagappally, Kollam, is notable for its tradition of shipbuilding. These boats known as Kettuvallams had been the major means of transport once. Though they are now being converted into houseboats, the traditional styles of boat building have not been changed. These boats don’t have any nails or screws to join the planks of Anjili or jack wood used. Instead these planks are tied securely with the locally-made and easily available coir rope which is coated with a caustic black resin made from boiled cashew kernels.