Welcome to Phinisi Boat Indonesia

In prior years,  teak  may have been one of the preferred woods to use for the structure, although locally it is considered rather soft and inferior. Since teak is not especially favored and is actually no longer plentiful, other tropical hardwoods are used. Presently in Indonesia,  Ironwood  and  Bangkirai  are preferred for boat structures. Obtained from the low land forests of Kalimantan, Ironwood is locally called Kayu Ulin (eusideroxylon zwageri). One of the hardest woods in Indonesia, Ironwood has a specific gravity of 0.88 to 1.19...! Although quite heavy, it has excellent physical properties and is not vulnerable to termites or other tropical wood eating insects or fungus. Kayu Bangkirai (shorea leavifolia) is also highly favored. Slightly less heavy than Ulin, Bangkirai makes excellent planking, decking, stringers, and upper structure.  Many other tropical woods are locally used, most of which have proven to be inferior for one r...

The boat builders commonly known lump under the category of Bugis people, however you need to know that there are four sub cultural category of boat builders distinguished in south sulawesi refer to article of Host Libner and Michael Karsten. The primary group are the Konjo of the southern part of south Sulawesi based in Tana Beru small district near Ara village and Bira Beach , the Mandar in north of Makassar , the Bugis from the small region near Wajo on the south eastern of Bone gulf    ( the central gulf between the two halves of Sulawesi, and Makassarese from the region around the city of Makassar. Among these talented groups, the Konjo group of south Sulawesi appear the primary and most influential role as boat builders. Technically the term pinisi refer to the rig itself. In particular ‘pinisi refer to the usual gaff ketchtype of rig. Locally rig is referred to as “ seven sail schooner”   eventhough the aft gaff sail is slightly smaller th...