The boat-maker told me, Kayu Chengal is one of the good hardwoods for making boats. Someone said, "Kayu Chengal solidity is 945kg/m³. It is in the list of durable hardwoods". In year 1987 in Terengganu, price of Kayu Chengal was myr1,500.00/tan. 1 tan equals (12 inches x 12 inches x 50 feet) equals 7200 factor. As a reference, the most durable hardwoods, that is, in the list of timbers which growing in Malaysia Rainforest are : Kayu Balau, solidity is 975kg/m³ ; Kayu Giam, solidity is 975kg/m³ ; and Kayu Resak, solidity is 945kg/m³. An article about softwood timbers, click here. Whatever circumstances, the prices of timbers rise throughout the year.
Back to fishermen. They painted many layers to their boat, in order to cover outer and inner surfaces of the body of boats. Too thick painted. How long have the boats ever been sturdy ? Actually, the paint would bung up cavities to block water leakage into the boat. There is something artistic, many different colors they have chosen. They have painted the motifs such as stripes and patterns, seemed engravings-like. Look at something over the boat. It was a protector for boat against glare and heat of sun. It maybe was made of plastic material, looked somewhat wire-plait-like. Is there a matter caused either by the cost or by the style ? I feel, whatsoever there is not a matter. Almost all fishing boats here using the engines with afar propellers.
I gave name Kaciwa because I saw this boat alone, far from others. Kaciwa comes from a word Kecewa. Kecewa means 'disappointed'. Thus, Perahu Kaciwa intended to 'The Boat's Disappointed'. About painting is below.
genre: scenery
title: perahu kaciwa
medium: oil painting on canvas
size: 122cm x 91cm
year: 2007
price: myr 10,000.00