RICE BARGE

The earlier mentioned boat means to build a boat with wood boards.

Currently more than 80% of built boats that we see are Rua Krachaeng. The word “Krachaeng” refers to canopies covering almost the entire length of the boat, so the boat is called “Krachaeng”. In the olden days Krachaeng were made of bamboo leaves or nipa palm leaves or toei (a water plant) leaves. The leaves were sewn by using needle to form a sheet, and then sew the sheets together to form Krachaeng as a canopy. Subsequently, Krachaeng made of such materials became expensive. It was hence changed from nature to galvanized iron sheet. Therefore, a canopy made of natural material is no longer to be seen.

“Krachaeng boats” can carry many cargoes, be they rocks, soil, sand, firewood, paddy, rice, etc. If it is used for carrying paddy or rice, it would be differently called “Rice Boat”. When loading cargo, especially paddy or rice, the Krachaeng canopies would be moved to one side to ease the loading. Occasionally, when there is nothing to carry, the Krachaeng canopies would be opened to sun the interior of the boat to get rid of small. Size of the Krachaeng boat is decided in accordance with the number of paddy or rice it can maximally load, such as 700 sacks, 1600 sacks, etc.

Note: The above explanative statement is cited and translated from an article “Differences between Krachaeng Boat and Iamjun Boat” published in a Thai popular travel magazine in Thailand called “Aw Saw Thaw” periodic of April 2001, by Nithi Subhongsang (Nutty).