Traditional boat forms of Konkan

Abstract

Konkan occupies a narrow strip of land adjoining the Arabian Sea along the west coast of the state of Maharashtra in India. Mentioned in Greco–Roman sea voyage accounts, such as the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, and in the works of Ptolemy and Strabo, it is a place of great antiquity. By virtue of its coastal location, Konkan has a distinct attachment to the sea, with its estuaries influencing the pattern of life in the region, and its shipping forming a crucial link between the Deccan hinterland and ports across the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf and Red Sea, as well as the east coast of Africa. For centuries, local communities in Konkan constructed vessels that were designed for deployment in the coastal and overseas trades. Depending on the need and objectives of local inhabitants, a variety of boat forms evolved along this coast, ranging from primitive, shallow-draught coasting craft to large sea-going vessels. During the seventeenth century, vessels with specific political and military purposes were built to form the Maratha Navy. In describing these Konkan boats, this research note considers three types of vessel: coasting craft, merchant vessels and warships.