User:Mussaamell

Boat Building in Nungwi

Nungwi is an outstanding place in dhow building in Tanzania and East Africa as whole, in Nungwi there are various small dhow building industries which has its head person for each, but all small factories in Nungwi are regarded by its members as one factory, and all those factories some time shares tools or even workers when needed. Introduction about dhow

The English name "dhow" is used to describe a number of vessels, all of which typically carry a triangular sail knotted to a long spar hoisted up a short mast. Often the spar is made from two or more poles bound together. The basic design has been utilized by local boat builders to develop vessels suitable for various purposes and sea conditions. This vessel, originating from Oman, is characterized by a pointed bow and a square stern, is a common feature of the east African coast. The stern of the larger dhows owes its square shape to the Portuguese galleons of the 1500's. The how design is robust and easy to maintain, though changes in direction (or tacking) involves moving the whole sail round the front of the mast which can be laborious. There are tree min wooden portions:: the ribs and keel, the planking for deck and hull, and the long poles for mast and spar. The name dhow possibly derives from a locally constructed Swahili vessel called a Dau, which resembles a small Mashua but has a pointed stern. .