Breeze_Issue_001_ChildrenOfTheSea

DESIGN & INSPIRATION
Arrival of modernity and tourism
Due to the increasing exposure to modernity and the
arrival of tourism, it was during the early 80s that these
boats with their own special Maldivian features began
to evolve.
Maldives opened its borders to tourists in the
late 70s and along with the opening of the first few
tourist resorts, the nation’s liveaboard industry also
began to stir into life. The first of the liveaboards
were traditional dhonis with their lateen sails, slightly
modified so that tourists can sleep, eat, and live on the
vessel. But soon, they started becoming mechanised.
And this trend also began to be mirrored by the fishing
vessels. For the fishermen, the addition of the motors
did increase their fuel costs. However, due to better
mobility and speed, the fishermen saw their catches
double. By the mid-90s, most of the fishing vessels
registered in the country were mechanised.
According to Philippe Laurella, a long time boat
builder and a veteran of the Maldivian liveaboard
industry, “The evolution of boat construction lead to
the standardisation of the design, especially for the
safari boats, and today, they look like something similar
to a mega yacht but in a smaller size.” Phillipe built one
of the first liveaboard vessels of the country. He named
it Baraabaru, and according to him it was inspired by
the design of the Maldivian sea vessel bahtheli.
Once the mechanisation of the wooden boats went
into full swing, Maldivian boat builders also came
across the need to look into other building materials.
“When the construction was done by only using wood,
it looked nice, but the problem was maintenance. Year
after year, the (maintenance) cost becomes higher and
the time that the boats spend stocked on the dry dock
becomes longer,” explains Phillipe.
Fiberglass
Maldivian boat builders chose the solution of building
them using fibreglass; a material that would provide
waterproof boats without any infiltration of water.
According to Wajeeh, “The most important factor to
consider when selecting boat building materials is the
weight strength ratio, and fibreglass is an ideal material
because its weight strength ratio is very low, meaning
strong structures can be made by using it thinly.”
However, Wajeeh notes that while fibreglass has its
beneficial characteristics, it is also very hazardous to
the environment.
Apart from fibreglass, Maldivian boat builders are
also now using imported wood and other such suitable
materials.
Still Evolving
No longer constrained by the height of the coconut
trees, Maldives now produces boats that are even as
long as 100 feet. Most of them equipped with diesel
engines, today’s vessels come with convenience
and speed. They are often equipped with the latest
technology and feature the latest trends in passenger
comfort and navigational safety.
The shapes, the construction techniques, and
the materials have evolved so far from the humble
sailing dhoni made from coconut palm wood. And
the traditional art of building a boat without using a
drawing is also becoming something that’s known and
practiced by only a handful of craftsmen.
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