BUM. A characteristic feature of this Kuwait dhow is its long teakwood stempost built out into a sort of planked bowsprit. The craft has taken the place of the baghla as the general sea-going dhow, particularly in the Persian Gulf ports. Booms are double-ended, have a net tonnage of up to 115 tons, with a length of 125 ft. and is not regulated by any local Board of Trade; consequently the dhow master utilises the last inch of space. In his book "Sons of Sinbad" Alan Villiers explains how the boom Bayan sailed as much as 280 miles in a day. She had on one voyage as many as 260 passengers at one time when she was taking pilgrims to Jeddab, the port for Mecca. The port of Kuwait uses booms almost exclusively for its deep sea trade and the Persians also prefer this type of dhow.
SG484 Sea Breezes 1/71