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Banca Boat Tour

The Philippine Banca Boats

You may be familiar with the term "Banca" if you have tried a vacation in the
Philippines. Banca boats are local and traditional boats in the Philippines. In
general, banca boats are known as outrigger canoes.

This week, get to know more about the banca boat, history of the banca boat, and
why you should tour with a banca boat.

What is a Banca boat?

 Banca boats, also locally known as Bangka, pump boats, baroto, etc., are the
primary water transportations of locals in the Philippines. Banca boats are
commonly used for fishing, transporting goods, and island hopping tours. If farmers
have carabaos for farming, fishers have banca boats for fishing.

Banca boats (or outrigger canoes in English) are built with outriggers on one side
or both sides of the narrow main hull. Traditional banca boatsare made of wood. The
outriggers are made of bamboo to support and stabilize the boat. Unlike other
canoes, banca boats travel faster and sail better even when paddled on rough
waters.

History of the Banca boat

 The outrigger canoes, or Banca boats, were initially developed by the

Austronesian-speaking people in Southeast Asia. It was made mainly for sea travel
during their migration period. The Austronesian people can travel as far
as Polynesia, New Zealand, andacross the Indian Ocean to Madagascar with the
outrigger canoes.

In the Philippines, Banca boats have always been a staple for residents living in
the coastal area. Early development of boat-building can be dated back to the pre-
hispanic era. The archipelagic nature of the Philippines urged the locals to depend
on Banca boats for navigating at sea, trading with other islands, and traveling
from one community to the other.

Today, Banca boats are still widely used in the country, usually for fishing and
island hopping tours. Filipinos, Malays, Malagasies, Micronesians, Melanesians, and
Polynesians remain to be the primary users of outrigger canoes for fishing and
traveling to nearby islands.
Why are there different sizes of Banca boats?

 Banca boats are built in different sizes according to their purpose. The size
should also depend on the capacity of people it can carry.

Small bancas are made customarily for fishing and traveling at short distances in
lakes, rivers, and sea. Small bancas use sails (like Paraws) or are paddled on one
side. Because of its outriggers, banca boats can withstand normal waves of the
ocean.

Bigger bancas, especially those used for island hopping tours, boat dives, and
sightseeing tours, are built with motorized engines, tables, bench seats, a mini
bathroom, and even a small captain's quarter. Big banca boats like this are
spacious, can carry more than ten people, and can travel at great distances despite
gushing waves.

Fisherfolks who have big bancas sometimes use it for island hopping tours because
they earn more with tourist activities than with fishing. Most fisherfolks in the
Philippines are naturally skilled boat-builders and sea navigators.

Types of Banca Boat

There are different types of banca boats all over the Philippines, but the most
popular ones are the Paraw and Vinta boat.

The Paraw boat is an outrigger sailboat of the Visayan region. Paraw boats are
distinguished by their big and triangular sails. Paraws were used for fishing and
transporting people or goods, but now, Paraw boats are popular for boat rentals in
Boracay. Paraw sailing is a must-do attraction in Boracay. In Ilo-Ilo city, the
Paraw Regatta Festival is a well-known annual event for paraw boat racing.

The Vinta boat is a traditional outrigger sailboatin the Mindanao region. It is

distinct for its wide and rectangular sail with assorted vertical colors and
design. The colors represent the colorful history and culture of the Muslim
community in Mindanao. Vinta boats, locally known as Lepa-Lepa or Sakayan, were
used for transporting people and goods in the ancient times. Today, Vinta boats are
commercially used for tourism as a way to promote the culture and history of
Zamboanga city.

Island Tours with a Banca Boat

 Because of its large outriggers, the Banca boat glides smoothly on the water as
you travel to your island destination. Touring with the Banca boat is also
relaxing. You won't feel seasick because the outriggers provide stability. The
Banca boat is open, spacious, and offers a 360° view ofseascapes and the open
water.

Banca boats used for tours also have retractable ladders on the side of the main
hull, so it will be accessible for you to get down from the boat if you want to
swim or snorkel. All banca boats can sail on shallow water which makes it
convenient when you want to drop by on marine sanctuaries, beaches, or islands on
your island tour.

If you want to rent a Banca boat or experience an island hopping tour with
the Banca boat, it is always recommended that you set sail with a reliable boat
crew and boat captain. Knowing you are in good hands at the open sea will make your
island tour more enjoyable. A Banca boat should be completely equipped with life
vests, a first aid kit, other equipment for emergencies, and knowledgeable boat
staff on board.
The Downside of Banca Boats

 Banca boats are made of hardwood, often the hull is a semi-dugout tree, and
although it may seem eco-friendly, it is the complete opposite. Because of the
continuous demand of banca boats for tourism and the fishing industry, numerous
trees are cut down illegally to supply plywood and trees needed tobuild the bancas.
One banca boat approximately need one fully-grown tree to make, depending on the
size. The constant need for wood to create the banca causes deforestation which can
result to flood and landslide.

The motor engine of the banca boat needs to be maintained more often than usual as
they are not a marine engine. If not, it will pollute the water with leaked fuel
and oil which is harmful to the ocean. It can also pollute the air and be hazardous
to the animals and people around the banca boat.

In an effort to save the trees and help fisherfolks with the cost of banca boats,
different organizations have been teaching and educating boat-builders and fishers
on how to build and maintain fiberglass banca boats. Fiberglass banca boats are
cheaper and easier to maintain because it lasts longer than wood and has less fuel-
consumption since it glides better on the water.

Banca Boat Researches and References

If you want to know more about Banca boats, take a look at our references below.

Below are few links we have used as references, images we use are from Patrice
Laborda and Paul Cowell.

The Philippine Indigenous Outrigger BoatOutrigger CanoePhilippine Bangka Outrigger

and Boom VariationsThe History and Culture of Boats and Boat-Building in the
Western VisayasTravelling by BancaPump Boat

If you are interested in a boat rental or island tour, know more about it here.

Last, but not Least

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In addition to our monthly newsletter, we will send you our weekly e-Bulletin with
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As always we want to thank Youtube and Wikipedia commons for some amazing images
and/or videos on this page!

Thanks for reading, and if you wish, see you next week!

The Research and Media Team at Scotty's.

More Pictures About Banca Boats

Banca Boat

Big Banca Boat


Fishers On Banca Boat

Island Tour Banca

Outrigger Canoe

Paraw Boat

Pump Boats

Scottys Banca Boat

Vinta Boat Mindanao

Wreked Banca

    

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