Indonesia's wooden SailBoat builders. Traditional handmade masterpieces. | Ep. 261

[@bondvagabond42]

Im a professional wooden boat builder in the USA, i am fascinated by modern instances where traditional technologies still have a niche in the modern world. Ive been involved several replica builds of historical sailing craft too, but I am really interested in fusions of technology 100's of years ago. We have this idea of ancient peoples as being very bound by tradition and resistant to change, but the style of boat in your video shows that if they have been making boats with dhow style hulls and european style rig since the 1600's, they must have adopted the foreign rig VERY soon after the dutch or whoever brought one over. I had no idea that they had made a fusion that far back. Very neat.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks. Yeah super interesting. History is pretty blurry at best, lots of stories are adjusted as time passes. The Portuguese were in the region long before the Dutch.

[@kocakabis]

Orang-orang Sulawesi merupakan bangsa pelaut mereka sudah berlayar ke Selandia Baru bahkan ke Madagaskar dan sebagian ada yg menetap di sana pada ribuan tahun silam masih mungkinkah mereka mendapatkan teknologi perahu dari eropa apa sebalik nya

[@jordanbey870]

What is the best sail boat for traveling around the globe...??? 32 feet long..

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

@@jordanbey870 haha, how long is a piece of string? It’s impossible question to answer without way more details. Solosailing? Budget? Coconut run?

[@prunar]

I would have thought that the fore and aft rigs were drawn from the lateen rigs of Muslim spice traders, just as they were in Europe shortly before the discovery of the New World.

[@abfab2517]

this beach boat scenery from above, is magical and so poetic.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

🙏

[@albion1016]

Good work. Wish this one was longer and thanks for mentioning the pride and joy of the builders.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Our pleasure!

[@AdventureYachtSeaMonkey]

Oh man. I loved this episode. What fantastic film making. You had me completely hooked from the first minute. I find this stuff fascinating! Thanks for taking the time to put it together.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

You’re very welcome mate, was a pleasure for me to make this video.

[@stephinity]

Thanks for the great mini-documentary on the Phinisi boat building - loved it!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@snee85]

really cool to see the ship building, we forget that parts of the world are still building traditional wooden ships.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yeah and not some one off government grant to build a replica. These boats are built to work

[@maakamakana7007]

brilliant..back in 1974 when I was there they were still building these lovely boats..

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Ah that’s amazing! I was born in 74.

[@SiPilek]

Terima kasih udah Berkunjung ke Sulawesi Indonesia 🥰🙏🙏

[@arakmybrain]

Nice one Vernon. Love your lifestyle and beaut presentations. 85 now, and with the wrinkles of life starting to tell and slowing me down, i’m left only to reminisce. Relive, with the magic of youtube, some of the wee journeys to places i’ve been. So totally rapt with your video. Thank you. Oh how i Iove the Island of Sulawesi, a beautiful flower of a place, shaped like an orchid, with it’s own special fragrance and mystic charm, calling out to be seen and explored. So i bought a little Honda 125, tied on my bundle, and hit the road. Mid 1970 it was. My homeward loop back to Makassar (where I bought the bike and sold it back to the dealer) followed down the East side of South Sulawesi Province and around the coastline of the Bulakumba Region. Bira, right on the Southern tip, was a place i wanted to throw away my passport, didn’t want to leave. Then it was on to Tana Biru, a short ride away going West. The plan a for quick shufty around the place and move on got interrupted by what i saw there. Got caught up with the Perahu Pisisi story, happening all along the shore line, these hand built majestic ships at all stages of construction, from laying the 1st hull plank, to being inched towards the water for launch, to the 1st hoist of the sails. Absorbed in the trade of these Bugis master craftsman, handed down father to son, i stayed there 3 days. If your into boats Tana Biru is definitely not a place for a quick shufty around. I fell in love with the people of Sulawesi, and one lady in particular, born in the wee town of Gorontalo, who one day fine day happened to meet up with a fella, born in the wee town of Donaghadee, a long way across the sea in Ireland, who was just passing through. Been together 48 years, now living in Canada.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Wow, what a story! I would have loved to travel this country back then, no plastic for sure. Thats the biggest thing I dislike here, out of control rubbish everywhere.

[@petriepretorius4085]

😮I love this story! Adventurer! I adopt you as my Uncle, because you are an adventurer... I wish i could come to your home in Canada, just to hear your stories... If you write a book i would buy it, because i can hear what an artist with words you are... I am a 38year old South African Afrikaans man with a heart full of art for ADVENTURE... I also love the romantic story of you and your wife who grew old together as life partners who met in paradise but that are from different worlds, it is beautiful, it is something i daydream about every day... Thank you for sharing, Uncle,kind regards to Auntie, your wife as well... 😊❤

[@DougVarble]

Great story about the boats built on the beach, thanks 🎉 beautiful baby😊

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Glad you liked it.🙏

[@balancespirit4706]

Great video!!!! One Love from Jamaica 🇯🇲 🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks !

[@NSGca]

Hey Mate, I loved your video. Very Very cool to see how they still build out a boat these days. One of the best gifts KZbin has to offer all of us. Many blessings and many thanks, friend! Indonesian Pride.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks, cool you enjoyed that video. 🤙🙏

[@giork2828]

10:53 handheld grinder doubling as footheld sharpener! Haha! Nice short documentary, Vernon. A shame nobody around us have any skills anymore. Marie looked radiant if you don’t mind me saying. All the best for you 3!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks mate. Marie always looks radiant in through my eyes.

[@topotone]

Crazy fascinating boat building culture. No hearing or eye protection…anything goes, work environment. Very resourceful people. Thanks for sharing.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yeah, not a health & safety office in sight. Works better though for sure. They actually think for themselves.

[@grahamrichardson9613]

Great video. So interesting to see the whole process, especially the launch.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks.

[@howardc9882]

Thank you, I love wood, love to watch crafts people work,,,

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

@@howardc9882 yep me too! Was a pleasure to make this video.

[@JustinS236]

Absolutely brilliant content. What a fascinating concept. Thank you for sharing.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Glad you liked this video Jay.

[@shreksswamp9001]

You're trying to the best you can!! I tell you what, all that effort is absolutely evident in every video you put out, even when you state that you struggled to get one done in a hurry, they are always top class and the information, story line, but most of all the photography is so, so good. When you are sitting there watching a video and get annoyed that it only goes for less than 5 minutes, but when you checked it is actually 20 minutes long and you enjoyed it so much that the bloody thing flew by, then that shows the quality of the videographers and video editor/s. Not to mention the story. Both of you have a unique way of narration and I enjoy it all. Come on people. Pull your fingers out. Subscribe, ring the bell for notifications and give it a thumbs up. Thanks Vernon and Marie for such a great video, which I have to say this week blew me away. The amount of work in one of those boats is phenomenal.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks so much mate, thats very nice. I think thats also how I know if I've enjoyed a video, its goes by fast and I didnt find myself thinking about or being sidetracked by anything else. Take care

[@marie-morganerousselin2352]

Thank you so much for the nice words 😊

[@shreksswamp9001]

@@marie-morganerousselin2352 You are both very welcome!

[@jimgraham6722]

Indonesia has thousands of islands, traditional shipping, plays an important role in holding it altogether. It also has special status under Indonesian maritime law.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

over 17000 islands in fact!

[@markdyson9190]

I’m a random viewer from the east coast USA. Super stoked to subscribe. The boat building was awesome.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks! Hope you’ll enjoy our content coming up.

[@seeharvester]

I've always dreamed of being a random viewer. Do you need a college degree? :)

[@rimrunz1795]

Great vid, very down to earth sense about it. Bless u both, and your son.....

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

@@rimrunz1795 thank you thank you.

[@timtaylor1365]

This is great...a huge promotion of Phinisi boat building and Indonesian life on Sulawesi... hope it helps the local economy . I will share on FB and subscribe.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks for that, glad you liked our video. The local population was doing pretty well.

[@fredbear2648]

Great video, I love that the old methods are still being used.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks. I find it fascinating too

[@ricorichmond8214]

What a wonderful documentary about this culture of boat building! Thank you for sharing and your work putting it together!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks mate.

[@rossmain4142]

An awesome episode, love to go and watch those guys work and create boats like that, thank you for sharing this with us

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

It was my pleasure Ross, I loved it.

[@jsurinderveygal561]

This is the best youTube I have seen so far. THANK YOU!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed it

[@jamzmusic2408]

Marvellous Job Love the country love the job u did

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks. 🙏👍

[@davidblack7528]

WOW! Very interesting! Thank you so much. The craftsmanship was great and the boats themselves are masterpieces.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MrWilberbeast1]

I first came across your channel years ago when you got your first boat. I followed you till you sailed to Japan in your second boat and lost touch, not because I lost interest. KZbin just stopped recommending and I guess unsubscribed me as well. This video has been in my feed for a few days now and I clicked not knowing it was your channel. So glad to find your channel again. Look forward to future content and adventures. Thanks for sharing.😊

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Well I'm glad you found us again Wilber. YT is a funny place for sure. We have 36k subscribers and only about 2k of them get shown our new videos each week.

[@wow.sailor.]

Wow Sailor great episode ❤

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

thanks

[@RICHARDSMITH-h6n]

You guys are great, thank you both.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks for watching!

[@garthsykes7691]

That was great coverage of the ship building. In 1971 I was working in the Makassar straigts and tracked down a 12.month old bugis or pinisi schooner 20m long.The price was $4500 US...I did not follow up because of many other issues back in singapore and then Aussie govt etc.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Wow that would have been a bargain, still, $4500 was worth about $600k in todays shit money

[@glennbrown1961]

That's the beauty of timber boats. You can build them on the beach with minimal tools. Unless you want a yacht finish that is. I am a 3rd generation boatbuilder and my Dad was always on my back about being too slow! He mainly worked on fishing boats but was quite well known for fitting out yachts as well. I concentrated on clinker built dinghies and people wanted a piece of furniture! Now no one wants them because of the cost! Great video guys. More please. G'day from Tasmania!

[@the_grand_tourer]

Lovely film, reminds me of the time I did exactly the same, with a film stills camera, at a row of Junk builders in Macaw. It was fascinating, I was allowed to wander around and watch ... built with 'no plans', all handed down from master to apprentice.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Very cool!, I would have loved to see it all back then.

[@caturlifelive]

Awesome video, thanks youtube for recomend ths video to me

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Glad you liked it!

[@BobLachal-il3yz]

Love it.thank you.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

@@BobLachal-il3yz glad you liked it.

[@wildhorsejohnson9643]

Somewhat like yourself, I have always been fascinated at watching others around the world working, producing, manufacturing, and building useful and beautiful though utilitarian objects that are needed by other peoples to do their work that helps the village, community, city, or country progress.... I was a soldier for awhile, training and learning from my youthfulness to become relatively skilled at the deeds of warring, and working in teamwork with many others to accomplish a mission. In the end I also learned to take a very dim view of warfare and all conflict, but that in turn led me to seek a more peaceful and productive life to raise my family involved in farming and livestock production, and all the necessary skills and abilities to be self-sufficient in building and fixing, and utilizing many other necessary attributes of that lifestyle. In older age and retirement, I have more time to visit and watch the advancements of simple and humble people engaged in living and life as this boat building. Thank you for sharing this passion of your's with us more or less kindred spirits... I appreciate it!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks for the interesting message, nice to read. You'd probably love a visit to Tanah Beru!

[@apb71]

Fantastic, on many counts !

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thank you.

[@apb71]

@@SailingLearningByDoing It seems like you are Living the dream ,and so refreshing to see peoples creativity using the materials supplied by God and nature to produce such beautiful works of useable art. Its like a floating wild west hotel and saloon.

[@jacobmurray8217]

Grate video mate

[@AdventuresofanoldSeadog]

Brilliant video !

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thank you mate! Was a fun one to make, enjoyed the process

[@rizkyachmad4605]

Awesome video! Keep it up 👏🏻👍🏻

[@StewartGartland]

Fantastic episode. I hope you guys enjoy Sulawesi, take care and enjoy!!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks! 😃

[@claverton]

Wonderful images.

[@petriepretorius4085]

Subscribed by this one video... God bless this couple, their child and their boat, and their journeys... 🎉

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

@@petriepretorius4085 thanks, we hope you’ll enjoy our upcoming videos and some old ones.

[@petriepretorius4085]

@@SailingLearningByDoing definitely!!! And i hope you have safe journeys and wonderful adventures... I will watch you here from sunny South Africa😄

[@louisiana4627]

Very interesting one !

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

I think so too!

[@brianbates688]

Really cool video. Thank you for sharing your explorations.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Our pleasure! 🙏

[@OzkAltBldgCo-bv8tt]

I'm really glad you mentioned that not only like and subscribe BUT CLICK THAT BELL

[@Barjumpa1]

brilliant film... Unbelievable craftsmen

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks, yeah they are pretty good

[@BobLachal-il3yz]

No worries with work safe, ear muffs, footwear. Wonderful.

[@travellers.explorers]

Great doco and commentary, well done, thanks

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Thenewkidsonthedock]

Guys what an epic adventure! I bloody loved the look into this unique and incredible traditional boat building. So true about what you said 'if there is a will there is a way in Indo'. This was so epic and really well put together, loved every minute especially your last comments on happiness. Cheers mate! Josh

[@braddobson2060]

Very good video you were lucky to be able to see all that. Marie looked radiant and very happy.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

It’s been a goal of mine for a while and one of the reason to sail around Sulawesi. Thanks for watching.

[@raritica8409]

The geometry on the hulls is absolutely beautiful! I wonder how fast some of them can get to

[@Alex000113]

Nice seeing these yraditional designs being built by the local community. Also that their methods are getting updated. Does the same yard repair their boats? How long do they last in that environment?

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Boats only come down this beach, none come back up. The boats will last decades if looked after correctly

[@metrickarma]

Amazing video, can't believe they're making such beautiful ships like that still

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

@@metrickarma thanks. These boats are in great demand

[@JAJAGO.KELILING.INDONESIA]

kereen.. subcribed ✅✅

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

🙏🙏⚓️

[@vingreensill]

Amazingly resourceful in the way they build and splash their boats!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Well they’ve been doing it this way basically for generations, just a few power tools added I’d guess. So nice to see though.

[@glennbrown1961]

That's the beauty of timber boats. You can build them on the beach with minimal tools. Unless you want a yacht finish that is. I am a 3rd generation boatbuilder and my Dad was always on my back about being too slow! He mainly worked on fishing boats but was quite well known for fitting out yachts as well. I concentrated on clinker built dinghies and people wanted a piece of furniture! Now no one wants them because of the cost! Great video guys. More please. G'day from Tasmania!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

@@glennbrown1961 cheers Glenn. Yeah funny how it goes, everyone wants nice stuff but doesn’t want to pay for it or wait long either. Luckily there’s enough rich divers wanting to go to raja Ampat that these guys have plenty of work. Teak and ironwood is getting harder to come by though.

[@JayCWhiteCloud]

Thank you so much for sharing this...and your wonderful family. I subscribed today and those notifications are most certainly turned on!!!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Glad you enjoyed our video Jay. Thanks for joining up and I hope you like our future efforts.

[@joewoodchuck3824]

Aside from the occasional replicas I had no idea anyone made them anymore. Nice!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Very much a thriving business here.

[@davecap2641]

What an amazing video.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thank you!

[@walterdavey4196]

Great video. Good to see you back in Indonesia.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks, loving being back

[@michaelbiggs7129]

Great video.. well done & Thanks ✌️

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks for watching!

[@thetraveller3577]

Fantastic to see this. Amazing craftsmen. Thanks and good luck with baby.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks👍

[@lawrencebaradell]

great job !

[@sebastianreher6663]

Really enjoyed this episode!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

🤙🙏

[@luapkirner5331]

Inspiring!

[@spearmethedetails2248]

Excellent video! I'm an amateur wooden boat builder and found this very inspiring.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks, glad you found our video interesting

[@Homested_Happenings]

I never would have believed it without your video. I had no idea that large wooden working sailing ships were still being built anywhere

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Pretty sure there are other places too. Madagascar and the coast of Africa. But yeah, pretty rare these days.

[@peterlee440]

So cool Vernon!

[@Itssmial_Ova]

I'm so excited to see more from this place. I don't have a boat, I dream of sailing through indonesia too though.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Well stay tuned, we've got some great stuff coming 3 times a month. We do also take guests occasionally

[@GabeWebber]

I haven’t watch your videos in a while but I now live in Bali and see these types of boats around. Very cool to see how they are built. In the larger ones in your video, what are they used for?

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Sweet, Bali’s a nice place to live. All the big ones get used for dive live aboard boats in Komodo, raja Ampat etc.

[@sailingwiththejamess]

so cool to see and watch!

[@Lela-p4q]

I love watching your videos 😊

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

🙏

[@daedster1]

Absolutely amazing skill from these boatbuilders. 70 yr old boatbuilder from NZ here.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yep, a joy to watch. 50yr old motueka sailor here.

[@stuartreinus1768]

Very Interesting......:)

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

🙏

[@sin_mintz8299]

Had to subscribe when you said and I quote, "Flip flops were the footwear of choice, eyeglasses were nowhere in sight, and cigarettes' were mandatory."

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thank you muchly

[@motionsick]

This is incredible

[@marktracey387]

Thanks Vern and Marie for another great episode. I am planning my voyage through Indo next year and you are a wealth of knowledge mate . Best regards to all three of you

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Youre welcome, feel free to hit me up if there's anything

[@MyBelch]

Interesting subject. Nice vid. Cheers.

[@VincentConti-m5j]

Wow. I was there in 2000. There were many boats under construction. Just down the road is Bira, a small resort town. I built a small bamboo house on the oceanfront. It was a crazy time! Beautiful place.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

We rented a scooter and visited Bira, what a dump! Like many things in Indo, it looks good from a distance but up close everything is falling down and the only things thriving are the Karaoke/brothel houses. I think its past its best times. .

[@VincentConti-m5j]

@@SailingLearningByDoing sorry to hear that. But it wasn't much back then either.

[@bevantweedie5129]

Amazing how quickly they can build them

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Yeah right? Fitting 350t of wood together, engine, tanks, steering. 3-6 months doesn't include the interior fit out though, just walls etc. No bathrooms, beds, lighting, galley etc, this is all completed afterwards in Bali

[@bradleymoran8353]

I want to go work with these guys ! So cool !

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

They would probably accept you there

[@psystealth]

cool mate

[@EricRhodeslives]

Fascinating!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

🙏

[@trentreddick95]

Awesome video thanks

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

🙏👍

[@Tronic1Records]

Great Video

[@timothytrespas]

Great video thanks

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

👍🙏

[@akda5id]

Got to get yourself invited along on one on a sail! Would love to see them underway.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

These days they don’t sail much. Tourist schedules don’t really allow for much leeway. They mostly only put the sails up for marketing photoshoots.

[@williambremner9022]

Fantastic episode. The skill of the Indonesian phinisi boat builders has fascinated and enthralled me for decades. Such a rich tradition that - unlike so many traditional boat builders elsewhere in the world - is not fading into the sunset as you pointed out that apprentices are there and the tradition goes on still. Wonderful to see...beautiful images and lovely soundtrack behind it mate. Cheers from SY Miss Foxy over here in Singapore.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks mate. Was a real pleasure to make this video.

[@ronaldfidler7897]

Don't be disheartened your vids are good.Stay out there it is a long way back if yu go Back to suburbia,ask me.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

@@ronaldfidler7897 thanks Ronald. We are aware and for take this into account. Our life is pretty great and we appreciate it NEARLY every day.

[@gpags76]

Im fascinated by this. Do we know the history of these boats? They seem to be a blend of traditional Indonesian and maybe influenced by the Dutch and Portuguese sailors traveling the maritime Silk Road in the early 1600s? Maybe even the Chinese treasure ships of the Ming dynasty a few century earlier?

[@Pedelorean]

Absolutely brilliant video! Amazing craftsmanship, zero health and safety, plus snacks with shakes for just 1.20 euros 😀 Keep on trucking with the videos. You always have good content and this video already has 71k views in a week. You must be really pleased with it. You'll reach the tipping point soon where the algorithm will get you in front of a wider audience, I'm sure 🙂

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks mate. Happy with how this video is doing for sure. Guess we need to make more doco style videos and less vlog stuff.

[@shaynewoodman6610]

😀😀😀😀 that was fun shayne

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

🙏

[@Malakai_333]

They are massive... Pretty Cool guys. Thanks

[@marzdens6051]

Great video, very informative and well put together The craftsmanship is fantastic and these boats certainly are beautiful I had great wind and sailed straight on past, wish I had stopped

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Thanks, yeah well worth a stop.

[@drewclarke5920]

in case you were wondering...YES they fiberglassed the hull after they were finished corking it... that is why it looks kind of pink...it makes them last a lot longer and leak a lot less truly amazing construction effort..by masters of their craft...beautiful ships...

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

yep, there were three of this sort, going to Jakarta for transport use. All three were fibreglass over wood, each painted a different colour.

[@gerrittenberkdeboer7763]

Very interesting

[@smith0819]

Excellent video - also notification bell "ON"

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Awesome, thank you!

[@TammyBillings-qt1ve]

Wow crazy, so cool to see.

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Right?! thanks for watching

[@robstubbs2772]

That was amazing great video guys.subsribed Notification all 😊 What a gorgeous happy baby cute as a button

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Awesome, thanks! Glad you liked the video.

[@liamthompson9342]

Spectacular. I didn't think this scale of timber boat building still existed - especially not sail boats!

[@SailingLearningByDoing]

Still going strong here!