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Wooden Boat USA

South East Asia Sampan Boat Red Bottom Thuyen Ba La Tam Ban

South East Asia Sampan Boat Red Bottom Thuyen Ba La Tam Ban

Regular price $2,021.83 USD
Regular price $2,021.83 USD Sale price $2,021.83 USD
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Thuyen Ba La Tam Ban - Display Only

The sampan boat—known in Vietnamese as thuyền ba lá tấm bản—is a traditional wooden skiff originating from China’s Han Dynasty. Over time, this practical and elegant design spread across Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Although the term "sam pan" means "three boards," modern sampans are often crafted with more for enhanced strength and stability.

Our handcrafted version is built with seven planks of star wood (Merawan hardwood), a local fine-grain timber similar to golden oak. Each boat is constructed around a durable internal wooden skeleton, then carefully sanded, painted in a striking red finish, and sealed with protective varnish. A teal version is also available.

Sampan Boat Features

  • Material: Star wood / Merawan hardwood

  • Dimensions: 127L × 36.25W × 22H inches

  • Weight: 113.5 lbs

  • Color: Red (also available in Teal – Item K207)

  • Construction: Seven-board build with reinforced skeleton framing

  • Finish: Smoothly sanded, painted, and varnished for durability

History

The sampan (thuyền tam bản) is one of Southeast Asia’s most iconic wooden boat designs. Featuring a flat-bottomed hull, it is perfectly suited for navigating shallow rivers, calm coastal areas, and estuaries. Throughout history, sampans have been essential for transportation, fishing, and daily river-based trade.

In many communities, larger sampans were built with small shelters, allowing families to live onboard full-time. These floating homes served as both residence and workplace, reflecting a simple yet deeply connected way of life centered around rivers and waterways. Though motorized boats are now more common, the sampan remains a cultural symbol, still used in traditional fishing and local river activities today.

Packaging

At OMHUSA, every sampan boat is packaged with exceptional care to ensure it arrives in flawless condition. Each piece is securely enclosed in a custom-built wooden crate, then reinforced with a durable outer carton and full internal cushioning. This multi-layered protection keeps the boat stable during transit and shields it from impact or environmental damage, guaranteeing that your sampan reaches you exactly as it left our workshop—safe, intact, and ready for use.

At Wooden Boat USA, we specialize in crafting exquisite wooden canoes, where the rich beauty of wood meets the grace of canoeing. Our skilled artisans meticulously construct each wooden canoe by hand, using a perfect blend of traditional techniques and modern technology.

 Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of our wooden canoes, meticulously crafted to capture the essence of their natural material. We exclusively utilize certified, top-grade wood, including Canadian red cedar, mahogany, rosewood, and teak, ensuring that each canoe is a work of art in itself.

For those interested in the craftsmanship behind wooden canoes, we offer insights into the process of building a wooden canoe. Our experts can guide you on how to build a wooden canoe, providing step-by-step instructions and sharing their expertise on selecting the right wood, shaping the hull, and finishing the canoe to perfection. Kindly check out Youtube Channel


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What makes our wooden boats so unique and special? 

Hundreds of hours go into the construction of our boats, as perfection is the only options.

- ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY: We use only certified top-grade, hand-selected wood such as Canadian red cedar, mahogany, rosewood, teak and more. 

- THE ART OF CRAFTSMANSHIP: Merging centuries-old customs with technological innovation, we bring you boats that excel in every categories. 

- IN-HOUSE QUALITY CONTROL: Each of our wooden boats goes through a demand quality control process including in water testing before leaving the workshop.

 

About Woodenboat USA™

The story of time-honored traditions of boat building. 

More than just watercraft, our wooden boats, kayaks and canoes represent connections to a legacy of craftsmanship and old world techniques. Woodenboat USA is invested in the type of construction that recalls generations of boat making. Over thirty years in business, our commitment has always been and will continue to be, to excellence, to tradition and to creating products that you can enjoy both for their performance and incredible beauty.

Inspired by history, the names of our watercraft are derived from the northern waterways where natives and settlers have used them for centuries. Merging centuries-old customs with improvements in technology, we bring you boats that excel in every category.

Beginning with pliable, high quality Canadian cedar and hardwood, our craftsmen hand join each individual strip. Hundreds of hours go into the construction of our boats, as perfection is the only option. Once built, the piece is encapsulated in fiberglass epoxy resin adding an extra layer of durability and strength. At last, the water craft is ready for its nautical debut.

FAQ's

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What are your canoes and kayaks made of?

Our canoes and kayaks are made of the highest quality western red cedar and some hardwoods. The larger boats are made of western red cedar, pine, and hardwoods such as oak, mahogany, teak, and some locally available woods. Our wooden watercraft are then coated both inside and out in an incredibly durable American made fiberglass and epoxy resin.

You mentioned that you use fiberglass in your boats, so what is the difference between your boats and fiberglass boats?

We only use 1 or 2 clear thin layers of fiberglass coating on top of the wood for reinforcement and added integrity. You never see any fiberglass, only beautiful, hand-joined cedar and hardwoods.

What is a typical cedar strip canoe or kayak weight?

A 15’ kayak weighs approximately 45lbs, making it very easy for one person to carry. A 16’ canoe weighs about 48lbs.

What type of boats do you build?

Our wooden strip canoes and kayaks are hugely popular for touring and recreational purposes. We also build wooden dinghies, wooden sail boats, classic wooden runabouts, and speedboats. Additionally, we can custom-build any design with which you supply us.

What methods do you use to build the boats?

Focused on integrating traditional technique with modern design, all boats are built by hand, typically taking hundreds of man hours to create.

How do I order?

Please contact our dealers or call (877) 88 Boats for more information.

How long does an order take?

Boats that we have in stock can be shipped to you within a week). New or custom products generally take 2-3 months as everything we sell is 100% hand crafted.

How do you ship it?

We can ship via trucking company very safely. We also insure all freight so in the very rare case that a shipment is damaged during transit, we will take care of the details and immediately replace the item for you. We also have distributors all over the world, so please contact us to find out more information.

How do I become a distributor of your products?

We welcome qualified dealers and distributors all over the world. Please contact us today at (877) 88 Boats or email us at info@woodenboatusa.com for more information.

What kind of warranty can I expect?

For all products we offer a 6 month limited warranty on materials and craftsmanship.

Guidelines for use

CARE:

With a little bit of care and maintenance, your beautiful canoe can last for generations. While our products are certainly durable and solid, they still require the right type of care and handling to ensure that they perform optimally.

  • It is recommended that you rinse your canoe off with fresh clean water after every use.
  • Upon returning from the trip, allow your canoe to air-dry in the shade.

STORAGE:

Besides taking care of your canoe, storage also plays an essential role in maintaining your canoe’s appearance and beauty.

  • Always store your wooden canoe in shade.
  • Turn it upside down on the support thereby keeping it off the ground.
  • Hanging your boat from the rafters in your garage or shop would be ideal storage.

REPAIR:

Minor scratches can be repaired by marine spar vanish or some brand of automobile wax. Smooth the damaged area with sand paper, wipe clean, then apply marine spar vanish.

SAFETY:

Wooden Boat USA strongly recommends that a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) is worn whenever paddling.

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