If you’ve ever visited Thailand, you’ll notice these brightly coloured, iconic boats lining the beaches and making their way up the river in Bangkok.
A Thai longtail boat (Rua Hung Yao) is a traditional wooden boat. Longtail boats, like tuk-tuks, are popular tourist attractions because they are iconic and distinctive. As their pilots steer inches from their powerful motors, the boats may reach speeds of up to 70 mph (112 km/h).
Long-tail boats exist in a variety of forms and sizes, but they all share one feature. They all feature a long tail and a propeller attached to a pole affixed to the stern of the boat. This tail has a unique dual purpose, serving as both a stirrer and a propeller for the boat. The long tail is comprised of biodegradable bamboo and a recycled tractor or automobile motor, making it both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
A long-tail boat is built without any designs, believe it or not. The blueprint for the design is kept in the mind of the master craftsman and passed down through the generations. The longtail boat has a high bow and flat bottom, allowing it to endure heavy waves. It was designed based on intuition and experience. It can also go through small streams and shallow waters because of its design.
Long-tail boats were once fashioned of Marwan, which is dense, seawater resistant, and robust, and is guarded by Nang Ta-Khian, a female guardian ghost. This belief indicated that this wood could only be used to make boats, as doing so would enrage the guardian spirit, who would punish the culprit with death and bad luck. The spirit Mae Ya Nang takes up residence in the boats after they are completed. Fishermen refer to her as the “grandmother of boats,” and they decorate and adorn their boats to please and pacify her. Aside from the cool boat art, the boatmen honour her by lighting a few incenses every morning and decorating the vessel with flowers and colourful sashes. Because Thailand is now primarily Buddhist, some Thais paint their boats in order to gain Buddha’s blessing of good fortune. The boat’s bow represents Buddha’s head to them, guiding them through difficult seas or to a fishing spot with plenty of fish. This section of the boat was blessed by Thai monks before its first journey and is now off-limits. A larger ceremony is required to return the positive vibrations during times of bad luck and lack of abundance.
When Arabian and Indian traders came to Southeast Asia in the past, the long-tail boats were made of wood dowels and glue and propelled by triangular sails. The boats are now held together with steel nails and propelled by motorised propellers.
You may need to wade through shallow water to get into the boat, so wear sandals or flip flops. To preserve your valuables, you might wish to invest in some water-resistant bags. Avoid the bow, also known as Buddha’s head, and the board from the bow’s lowest point, which is in the middle. The captain will normally instruct everyone to stay in the front of the boat to keep it balanced but instead, stay in the middle to stay dry.