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The quaint bedan is a survival from Arabia's primitive past: an odd yet distinctive dhow with features not encountered in any other of all the various types now in service. Its curved "clipper" type false bow consists of nothing more than shaped planking reaching forward of a bolt upright stem. The the most unusual feature of these craft with the vertical timbering that extends from the sternpost. This exterminates in a tall pointed secondary sternpost and to this an equally long rudder is hung. The planking of the after extension is held together, in part, by horizontal battens that are carried aft to protrude a little aft of the secondary sternpost. In doing so they assist in keeping the rudder in position as this is secured with nothing more than coir lashings at its head and foot. As the rudder blade extends to below the level of the bedan's keel it is partially unshipped by drawing the blade up to the quarter, usually to port, when the dhow is in shallow moorings. This prevents possible damage should the vessel take the ground. In the small Batina bedan the false bow and stern timbers were sewn together with coir but the main hull planking was nailed to ribs throughout. The hole pins were still intact as were the square-bladed oars. The manner in which the bedan is steered is unique although at one time a number of other dhows were similarly controlled, namely the batil and the baqarah which both went out of existence some fifty years ago, and the zarook. The bedan's rudder is actuated by a peg-like tiller that projects aft from a position just above the water line. From it the steering tackle is led forward to the quarters. H : each line, port and starboard, is attached to the lower or outer end of a short toggle-like spar. These swing at their centres from the outboard ends of a 'thwartship beam. To the upper or inboard ends of the toggles separate lines are tied and these lead through blocks at the break of the poop and aft to the steersman. By pulling back on the line and easing the starboard one the bedan should theoretically turn to port. It is amazing that such an awkward method of steering should have survived for so long. Surely the yoke system would be far more simple and efficient in its operation! But the bedan has sailed the seas in its own peculiar manner for far longer than can be remembered and it is likely to stay that way until the dhow itself becomes altogether obsolescent and that day cannot be very far off.
Sultanat of Oman 1996;100b;SG 446
Sourse: Source : A Dictionary of the world’s Watercraft from Aak to Zumbra.
C.Hawkins:The Dhow

Name on the stamp is given as BADAN but mostly known as BEDAN.