A Study of the Sewn-Plank Boats of Goa, India

Abstract

The study of traditional boats has enhanced our knowledge of the maritime past. Traditional boats are both river- and sea-worthy. They have been used in rivers for transporting cargo to inland ports from ships anchored at sea, and have often been used in naval warfare. In this paper an attempt has been made to study the sewn-plank boats of Goa, their building techniques and other features in order to understand their quality and how they were used in the past for an inland river-transport system. © 2011 The Authors