The sampan is a relatively flat bottomed Chinese wooden boat. Some of them include a small shelter on board, and may be used as a permanent habitation on inland waters. Sampan is generally used for transportation in coastal areas or rivers, and is often used as a traditional fishing boat. It is unusual for a sampan to sail far from land as they do not have the means to survive rough weather.
The word “sampan” is literally meaning “three planks”. The name referred to the hull design, which consists of a flat bottom (made from one plank) joined to two sides (the other two planks).
Sampan – Description
Some have sharp bows, and nearly all have large sterns, with the after portion of the gunwale and deck nearly always raised.
Sampan in Hong Kong
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Sampans may be propelled by poles, oars, particularly a single, long sculling oar called a yuloh or may be fitted with outboard motors. Sampans are usually rigged for sailing, sometimes with two masts. In Japan, Hawaii, and Taiwan, a powered boat has been developed out of the traditional Japanese sampan, with a flat-bottomed midsection.
Sampan – Origins
The earliest of these type of boats came from China. In travel writings from the west in the 17th Century, the word and name is applied by Europeans to any small boat of Chinese pattern in the China seas. There are many types of sampans of different size and design variations in the Asian region. In Singapore, it was used along rivers and coastal areas, for fishing and short range transportation.
Sampans are still in use by rural residents of Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar) and Vietnam.
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I am looking for construction plans or least study plans for a sampan type boat for a hobbyist wood worker. I would use in on and about Galveston Bay on the Texas, U.S.A. coast.
Features I am hoping for would be 6 – 8 meters in LOA,, perhaps powered by a 15 to 30 HP inboard motor. I would consider an outboard powered model. Stitch & Glue or plank construction are both possible for consideration.
Thank you for any suggestions or thoughts along this line.