Travelogue: Terengganu Blog 8 (29th May 2022) : Timber boat Making in Pulau Duyong

Timber boat Making in Pulau Duyong

Location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/5%C2%B019'39.0%22N+103%C2%B007'23.1%22E/@5.3279107,103.1216271,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0!7e2!8m2!3d5.3275107!4d103.1230707

Encik Abdillah, the owner of this boat yard learnt the art of boat construction from his father. He is very famous for this and so far he has built boats for clients from Europe, US and even Australia. When we visited the boat yard, there was 2 boats in the process of building and one of them is for an Australian client which costed millions of ringgits. They build boats ranging from small fishing boats to luxury yachts. 

As he was taught by his father and through his experience, there is no proper drawings which he followed. They typically used pegs and screws to fasten the boat. One of the main things I remember him saying was that the most important thing for a boat is its water proofing. They use this waterproofing material in between two layers of wood which expands and fills in the spaces as it touches the water. 

waterproofing material

Some of the joints

Meanwhile, government agencies are putting an effort to preserve this boat making tradition. They promote this among students and annually quite a number of students visit this place and learnt more about it. Also they are trying to train and guide young generation to master this skill and keep it ongoing to the upcoming generations.

Something I got curious when I saw those huge boats and the way they climb up to it, what are the safety measures taken while working on high levels. Or what where the methods they used previously to climb that high. I am scared of height, so I didn't climb up while some students did.

The other thing really hit me was the way it was released to the sea. I want to witness the process of moving the boat into the sea. I am pretty sure there is a simpler way than my mind can process which is innovative enough that all the boatyards are using. I will share a link here in case you are wondering too. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/11/641003/fishermen-hold-gotong-royong-pull-their-traditional-boats-higher-ground