Interview with a Phinisi Builder: Preserving Craftsmanship Today
Sitting under the shade of a coconut tree in South Sulawesi, I had the chance to chat with Pak Baco, a Phinisi boat builder whose hands hold decades of knowledge passed down through generations. These traditional Indonesian wooden boats have been sailing the seas for centuries, first used for trade and now often turned into elegant vessels for tourism, especially around places like Komodo and Raja Ampat. You can even see how some are built today, like those at https://www.komodoluxury.com/services/boat-construction/ . Pak Baco began learning the craft from his father when he was just ten years old. "I used to hand him nails and sand the wood," he said with a smile. Now in his fifties, he leads teams of younger builders, most of whom are his relatives or neighbors. “We still use simple tools, mostly wood and hand tools. It takes time and teamwork. No big machines here,” he added. What makes Phinisi boats special, according to Pak Baco, is that each one is built by feel and e...