Traditional Maritime Technology: A Boatbuilder's Perspective on the Classification of Terengganu's Sea and Riverine Perahu

Abstract

Terengganu's rich maritime history has led to the development of various watercraft designs, with local researchers extensively studying the history, types, and decoration of traditional boats, known as perahu. However, the classification of perahu based on their specific usage remains underexplored. Given the scarcity of written records on Terengganu's traditional perahu, this study combines interviews and observations to gather essential data. In line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11.4, which focuses on the need to protect and preserve the world's cultural and natural heritage, the study aims to contribute to existing research by focusing on the classification of Terengganu's traditional perahu according to their construction methods and specific river and sea applications. This study refers sea perahu as both; coastal and seaworthy. Adopting a qualitative approach, the research observes 15 traditional perahu and one prototype housed at the Terengganu State Museum, while one type is only represented through verbal accounts and is excluded. Interviews with 4 experienced boatbuilders in Kuala Terengganu provide additional insights into the features of riverine and sea perahu. The study finds that, of the 16 types of perahu examined, five were designed for river navigation, while 11 were intended for the sea. The data were presented to the Maritime Unit at the Terengganu State Museum for validation. The variety of perahu in Terengganu is largely influenced by the region's geography, featuring both