Boat Name
Boat Use
Boat Type
Build Date
Country of Origin
Area of Origin
Boat Dimensions
Length
14 ft 7 in
Description
This boat was used, probably by three people, to escape from the communist regime in North Vietnam to Hong Kong, where the crew were interned as illegal immigrants. It was built as a fishing boat, and much larger boats than this - up to forty feet - have the same method of construction.
There are about 2,000 varieties of bamboo ranging from tiny grasses to giants 70 ft high and there is surely no more versatile plant in the world.
Rafts of bamboo are fairly common and many boats use bamboo as floats or for spars, but only in Vietnam and the Gulf of Siam is the whole hull made of woven bamboo. The same technique of weaving is used in larger boats but these have planked sides with replaceable (because they are difficult to repair) bamboo bottoms.
Bamboo is light, flexible, strong and rot resistant, all virtues for the boat builder. It is also scraped with a knife and the scrapings used for caulkings.
History
This boat is unusual for another reason. It sailed from Vietnam to Hong Kong (600 miles) with refugees - a truly remarkable effort and the red number on the bows records their case number on arrival in Hong Kong.
We hope to discover more about this remarkable voyage from the person who obtained it and presented us with it, Superintendent Peter Wyatt of the Hong Kong police.
User Comments
There are currently no comments on this item. Be the first to comment on this item by filling in the form below.
