Boats Forms - Retrospect and Prospect

The foregoing review of Indian boat forms and designs shows that over centuries, at least since late pre-Christian era, an immense variety of boat forms existed all along the Indian coasts. The sea-worthy designs differed regionally in details and in modes of construction along different coastal segments. They also varied in size and form. The coming of steam in early nineteenth century has resulted in a slow decline of these boats; but they have not yet become totally extinct. They are not today recognized by their distinctive names, but they are all called together as Country-crafts or Indian Dhows. Among the present day boat builders, they are called Kotias, at times with a prefix of the name of the place where they are built e.g. Mandvi Kotia, Cuddalore Kotia, etc. But, they are however far from the true Kotia form and design, which has become obsolete, with the total decline of voyaging passenger traffic.