Traditional Fishing Boats of Malaysia

Book excerpt: Enjoy a presentation of delightful traditions shown in Malaysian fishing boats. This book provides an overview of unique design features, typical designs, survey measurements as well as dozens of color photographs. This investigation, which was part of a boat design project, was awarded the Middlesex University Goulding Prize for Professional Excellence. The richness of the maritime tradition in Southeast Asia is difficult to equal anywhere in the world. With large populations and ready access to the sea, the vessels which allowed populations to harvest the sea's bounty have an important history. Due to the Malaysian peninsula being the southernmost projection of continental Asia and a subsequent obstacle to sea trade, peninsular Malaysia became subject to the trading histories of great civilizations from Indian, Arabic, and European to the west and Chinese to the east. Peninsular Malaysia is referred to in many ancient texts and archaeological finds connecting the region to sea trade, most prominently as the southern trade route between China and the Indian subcontinent. The construction of these boats is fascinating. Traditional Malaysian boats are normally built without drawings and from the shipworm and rot resistant hardwood chengal. The keel, stem, and stern are made from massive timbers into which are carved receiving surfaces for the rest of the framework. The planks are bent either by the simple application of force using clamps or by heating them with fire. The planks are fastened to internal frames. On the east coast the planks are connected using trunnels (dowels) typically made from iron wood. This joining technique is also coupled with a traditional method of sealing the planks in which a layer of melaleuca tree bark is pushed over the trunnels. Adjoining planks are hammered over these trunnels. In contrast to this traditional technique, plank sealing is produced on the west coast and some areas of the east coast, by pressing rope between the planks. The boats have distinctive bow and stern features as well as a myriad of delightful idiosyncrasies that make them special.