The Dhow Boats are Sailing Towards History

Introduction

The Dhow boats got their name from the Swahili word "daw". The Swahili language is generally spoken in some parts of East Africa. These wooden boats have a few triangular sails bobbing. Different historians have changing views about the dhow boats.

Some believe that it was invented by Arabs or Indians. Dhows are actually trading vessels that were used to carry people and heavy materials like water, fruits, or heavy merchandise to different places.

They are ancient two-masted sailing boats that were known for their great naval innovation. They were especially used in the Middle Eastern regions since ancient times. They were very popular traditional Arab boats that were used for trading goods and fishing activities.

Usually, the weight of the dhow boats are of three to five hundred tonnes and have a slender hull design. These boats are used in various countries around the world but mostly for trips between the Persian Gulf and East Africa.

We are writing this article to highlight the history of dhow boats and their unique characteristics.

These boats are a historical artefact that was popular due to its design and capability of carrying heavy loads.

How are Dhow Boats Built?

Dhow boats are an innovative sailing vessel that has a raised hull and a sharply pointed bow. These boats are usually constructed from wood and have a minimum of two triangular sails. There are two ways of constructing dhow boats.

One way is by using lateen and the other is by a stitched construction. Wooden planks are arranged and sewn together. The masts used in the sails were generally made from teak and coconut wood. In the olden times, sails were made by weaving palm leaves and after some time the use of cotton came into existence.

During ancient times, people used two types of dhow boats. One was used at night and rough weather conditions and the other was used daily, mostly at daytime.

There were different types of sails made according to the requirements of the dhow boat. Usually, dhow boats were Arabic and generally used a traditionally designed sail.

History Behind Dhow Boats

According to some historical researchers, the exact origin of the dhow boat is not clear. That's why it is still a mystery; about the origin of dhow boats. But some researchers believe that dhow boats originated in India between 600 BC to 600 AD.

There are others who believe that sambuk is another name of dhow boats that is derived from the Portuguese caravel. The mention of dhow boats can be found in the popular tales of Arabian nights. During ancient times for the purpose of trading pearls, the dhow boats were used due to their excellent goods carrying capacity.

There is a historical story behind the dhow boat. There was a time when Yemeni Hadhrami people came to Beypore in Kerala, India for the purpose of making their dhow boats.

They came to the forests of Kerala due to the availability of good timber and good coir rope along with skilled carpenters, who were masters in shipbuilding. The sheathing planks that were used for dhow boats were held together by coconut rope.

According to some research done by historians, it was found that Dhow boats were invented either by Arabs or Indians. But the purpose for which both of them invented these boats are common like fishing, trading vessels or to carry items like fruit, freshwater, and other goods to different coasts like in Arab countries, India, Bangladesh, and East Africa.

The dhow boats flourished in the East African coast and are still in use today. The presence of dhow boats can be found in greek texts that were written in 600 BC. The use of dhow boats is still continuing for the journey between the Arabian Sea and East Africa.

Types of Dhow Boats

According to some recent findings, it was found that there are different forms of dhow boats that have been built. But there are only two main types of dhows boats that we have mentioned earlier in this article.

1. Shu’ai

Shu’ai is a dhow boat that is considered the smallest of the dhows boats. According to some findings usually, these boats are used for the purpose of fishing activities. These boats usually have a higher stern area compared to its bow area.

2. Boum

It is another form of dhow boat that is used for both fishing and commercial purposes during the old times. The structure of the Boum boat is usually quite different from other dhow boats. The Boum boat stern is tapering in structure and its overall structure is more symmetrical in shape compared to other dhow boats.

3. Zaruq

This form of Dhow boats has got its name from the Arabic language word that is used for Mule. It is a traditional deep-sea Dhow boat used in ancient times.

4. Badan

It is another name used for dhow boats that were used as a small vessel which has a shallow draft.

5. Jalibut

It is a small or medium size dhow boat. It is also known as the modern version of shu'ai which is also a form of dhow boat with a shorter prow stem piece. Most Jalibut boats have an engine.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed the historical dhow boats. These dhow boats were used for many purposes like travelling from one place to another while carrying heavy goods for commercial purposes.

There was a time when these boats were very important for commercial purposes. But with the change in time, the importance of these boats have been forgotten. You too can get a sailboat model and preserve it.

These boats were an important aspect of history if they get forgotten then an important part of history will be erased. That’s why we at Ubuy are taking efforts to keep the memory of these boats alive by writing this article.

Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it!