Carrying on the tradition: Skillful Heng Soon hard at work to complete a longboat, which remains a key mode of travel for many rural residents.
SIBU: At an age when most of his peers were preparing for tertiary education, Ling Heng Soon chose a different path – pursuing the craft of longboat making.
Now 28, the Dalat native has spent 15 years honing his skills, having started learning the trade at just 13 under the experienced guidance of his father, Hock Kai.
“I was offered opportunities to further my studies after completing Form Five, but I decided to continue with boat making because it gave me a stable income,” said Heng Soon.
Despite the improved road network in the state, river transport remains an important means of communication among the rural people.
Sarawak’s extensive waterways, comprising 55 major rivers and thousands of tributaries, form a vast hydrological network across the state.
Heng Soon operates a workshop beside his home, where aspiring boat makers often drop by to observe and lend a hand, much as he once did – learning the trade unpaid, driven by passion and perseverance rather than academic routes.
He produces four types of longboats – small, medium, big and extra-large – tailored to customers’ budgets and needs.
One of his most popular models is the 5.5m boat, priced at about RM4,800, while larger models can reach up to 7.6m in length.
In favourable weather conditions, Heng Soon is able to produce up to 15 boats a month.
However, output drops to about eight boats during the rainy season.
He said some orders are placed months in advance, forcing him to turn away customers during peak periods.
“Boats need to be spray painted and dried under the sun. During the rainy season, the paint remains tacky for longer, leading to an uneven finish,” he added.
Demand for his boats remains strong, with customers coming from across Sarawak, including Belaga, Miri, Kapit, Song, Serian and Kabong.
He has also receives orders from Sabah, although delivery poses logistical challenges as the boats must pass through Brunei.
“People need boats to travel to town. Others use it to catch fish and to get to their farms,” he said.
Using red meranti wood combined with fibreglass, Heng Soon said quality is non-negotiable.
“If the quality is poor, people will not want it. Reputation is important because people talk,” he said, adding that many customers around Kapit recognise his boats and recommended them to others.
Over the years, he has refined his boat designs while also accommodating customer specifications.
His boats are built to accommodate engines of up to 40hp and are designed to last between 10 and 20 years with proper maintenance, although heavy usage may shorten their lifespan.
Despite competition from more than 30 other boat makers across Sarawak, Heng Soon continues to stand out through craftsmanship and consistency.
He said that rising material costs, including imported components, have affected production expenses.
Looking ahead, Heng Soon hopes to encourage more young people to take up the trade, and is considering producing a guidebook to ensure the traditional knowledge is passed on.
