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Black-hulled fishing and transport boat; no longer being built, but many still fish for mackerel and sardines. Well-suited for work off beaches. Traditionally a dugout base to which a deep strake has been added; some plank-built; others merely dugout canoes*. In the plank-extended type, the strake is set into the base and the joint covered with a broad cop¬per strip. Early large pirogs constructed of 2 dugout halves joined by putting the halves into recesses and covering the joint with copper strips. White, lanceo¬late bow weatherboards are characteristic. Sharp ends with strongly raking, curved stem and sternpost; pro¬nounced sheer; flat bottom, no keel. Widely spaced half ribs on alternate sides provide strength and rigid¬ity. Thwarts set into horizontal slots left when the base is hewn out, or on stringers. Tray-type decking at the ends. Generally anchored from the stem with a large stone. Steered with an oar held against a post on the starboard side. Rowed, usually single-banked; single tholepins, intermediately spaced. Large early boats required 10 or more oarsmen, often carrying copra from island to island. When sailed, set a spritsail or leg-of-mutton sail; no longer sail. Mast stepped into a block. The current fishing boats are ca. 7m long and require a crew of 7. Originally 5-12m long.

Seychelles 1952;20c;SG163t.
Source : A Dictionary of the world’s Watercraft from Aak to Zumbra.