Dhows of the Arabian Gulf

The Trading Shu'ai
   
 Length: 11.5 cm Weight: 250 gms
The Shu'ai is the workhorse of the inshore waters of the Arabian Peninsula - a shape that everyone is familiar with, with its distinctive jutting prow. To many, the shu'ai is the archetypal dhow - the image that first springs to mind when thinking about Arab boatbuilding tradition. We've aimed to get as much detail as possible into these models, from the anchor lying on the deck in the bow, to the detailed cargo (boxes, bales and vehicle tyres), the fenders hanging along the side and even a "thunderbox" at the stern.



The Fishing Shu'ai
   
 
 This has the same hull shape as the trading shu’ai but is fitted out for a fishing role. Instead of cargo, its decks are covered with fishing nets, fish traps and other equipment. A hatch cover is removed to show a hold full of fish - hamour and chanard destined for the fish souq. Anyone who has lived in the Gulf will probably have memories of a fleet of these craft heading out to sea in the late afternoon for a night’s fishing trip. While our trading dhow has a canopy as shelter from the sun, our fishing shu’ai is shown with the additional luxury of a small wheelhouse. Length: 11.5 cm Weight: 250 gms

The Boum
 
 
 
With its elegant curved lines and a prow taller than a man, the boum is every bit as distinctive as the shu’ai. Larger than the shu’ai, it is more suited to longer-distance voyages, carrying cargo from India or even to and from the East coast of Africa. The long prow at the bows is matched by an equally impressive rudder at the tapered stern which is one of the chief characteristics of the boum.  Length: 18 cms Weight: 470 gms

The Jelbut
   
 
The origins of the name jelbut are thought by some to derive from the British Royal Navy’s jollyboat - a tender to a warship. In any case, it has interesting lines, with a very distinctive squared stem, quite unlike the sweeping prows of the shu’ai or boum. This is the only model in our current range which depicts a sailing boat, with the mast and furled sail of its traditional lateen rig lying on the deck. The long bowsprit which is a feature of the model is an integral part of the lateen rig, adding to the overall length of the craft and enabling it to carry a larger sail. Length: 13.5 cm (including bowsprit) Weight: 220 gms

The Sambuq
   
 
The largest of the boats in our range, the Sambuq is a real heavyweight among wooden vessels and is capable of carrying large cargoes between the Gulf and the Indian subcontinent.
In our model one pair of hatch covers is off to reveal cargo in one of the vessel’s holds. There is also a small dinghy stowed on the foredeck for use when the sambuq can’t tie up alongside. Designed for long voyages, it has accommodation for its crew and it is not uncommon these days to see satellite TV dishes perched on top of the wheelhouse.		 Length: 17.5 cm Weight: 735 gms