Boat Making - Ernakulam, Kerala
A Boat is a floating vessel which can be designed in any shape or size and plays a bigger role in the transportation of goods, humans and many more through waterways. It is mostly made up of plywood, wood, bamboo and fiber glass casting. Boats are categorized into many shapes and according to their shapes and floating properties each boat shape is given a name to denote it. Boat have a long history and various versions which were and are used throughout the world for the need of transportation, fishing, sports and sightseeing etc. Boat are constructed in various methods due to their planned requirement, locally available resources and age old traditions. Fishing boats are constructed keeping in mind the local conditions, sports boats includes ski boats, sailboats and pontoon boats whereas house boats are used for holidays or vacations to travel along the course of the river and enjoy the serenity of the place. Life boats are used for rescue and safety purpose and small boats are mainly used in transportation of goods to and fro from large ships. Surveyors has discovered many evidences of the existence of boat varying in size and model in the archaeological sites of the Indus valley civilization. In ancient times boats were often featured by a character’s head projecting from the front of the boat. The oldest boats were the “Log boats” found by the Archaeological excavations dates from 7,000 to 10,000 years back. Boats are usually built of less sturdy materials as they don’t have the need to survive the high wind and waves of the ocean but only floats on the rivers and lakes of the region. These boats are restricted in size according to the width and depth of the river as well as the height considering the bridges and their arrangements, made for the passengers to cross to the other end of the river. The boat is also used as a vessel which carries and transports people along with loads from one end of the river to the other and collects revenue in return.
Ernakulam the commercial district of Kerala, India is very eminent for its prehistoric monuments, shrines, churches, mosques. Ernakulam was the first “fully literate district” of India. The name Ernakulam was obtained from a Tamil word “erayanarkulam” which implies the heavenly place of Lord Shiva. In the year 1990, a boat manufacturing industry Matha Marines started their business of building ships and boats of all kinds. The company is owned by Mr. Joy Jacob, a qualified naval architect. This company has been well-equipped with infrastructural facility and has a decade of experience in the field of boat making. Matha marines are specialist in fiber glass construction of large and small boats and are also involved in customized designs ordered by the clients. The quality of materials and the products they render which is used in building of these boats have made them well in the region. Matha Marines efforts in their field has enable them to get the attention of reliable clients from all over India.
The various parts of a traditional wooden boat are as follow:
• Bottom boards
• Centre (Thwart)
• Stem post
• Frame (Rib of the boat)
• Keel
• Rowlock
The various parts of a fibre glass boat are as follow:
• Hull (body of a boat)
• Bow (front of a boat)
• Port (left side of a boat)
• Starboard (right side of a boat)
• Stern (rear of a boat)
• Propeller (motor engine)
