View source for Engineering:Lepa-lepa (dugout canoe)

[[File:Lepa-lepa race Pambusuang.jpg|thumb|A lepa-lepa race in Pambusuang, 2016.]]
'''Lepa-lepa''' is a traditional canoe from the eastern part of the Indonesian archipelago. They are short range coastal fishing craft, but they can also be used for inter island voyages. The routes they took, among others are between Seram and Ambon-Lease, Geser island and Seram Laut, within Banda and Kei group of islands.<ref name=":0">Ellen (2003). p. 156.</ref> They are already existed since at least 1500 A.D.<ref>Ellen (2003). p. 150.</ref>

== Description ==
[[File:Lepa-lepa%20motorized.jpg|thumb|Motorized lepa-lepa with double outrigger.]]
Traditional lepa-lepa canoe is made from single piece of hollowed wood ([[Engineering:Dugout canoe|dugout base]]). The wood can be of various sizes. They can be used with or without a sail,<ref name=":0" /> as they can be propelled with paddles (called ''wosa'' in native language) and [[Engineering:Quant pole|quant pole]]s (''doan'').<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">Ellen (2003). p. 154.</ref> Some of them may be equipped with double [[Engineering:Outrigger|outrigger]]. Lepa-lepa may be enlarged by adding additional planks to its sides. A boat that has been added with a kalulis prow is called '''lepa-lepa [[Engineering:Kalulis|kalulis]]'''. The sails used are from ''[[Engineering:Gunter rig|nade]]'', gaff, and [[Engineering:Tanja sail|tanja]] types. After 1980s lepa-lepa began to be modernized by adding outboard motor.<ref name=":0" /> Modern lepa-lepa is made by fiberglass.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.antarafoto.com:443/bisnis/v1357966208/perahu-lepa-lepa|title=Perahu Lepa Lepa|website=www.antarafoto.com|access-date=2020-01-22}}</ref> A lepa-lepa may be 3.4–9.3 m long, with 40–80&nbsp;cm width, and depth of 30–55&nbsp;cm.<ref name=":1" />

== Role ==
Lepa-lepa is mainly used for fishing. They are also used for transporting, such as transporting trading products ([[Chemistry:Sago|sago]], [[Biology:Fish|fish]], green vegetables), and people. Lepa-lepa is suitable for maneuvering through narrow shallow channel using combination of [[Engineering:Quant pole|quant pole]]s and paddles. In the present however, it is not considered appropriate to sail or paddle for long distances using them, and motorized lepa-lepa are more often used.<ref name=":0" />

== See also ==

* [[Engineering:Orembai|Orembai]]
* [[Engineering:Kalulis|Kalulis]]
* [[Engineering:Lambo (boat)|Lambo]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==

* Ellen, R. F. (2003). ''On the Edge of the Banda Zone: Past and Present in the Social Organization of a Moluccan Trading Network''. University of Hawaii Press.

{{Indonesian traditional vessels}}
[[Category:Austronesian ships]]
[[Category:Sailboat types]]
[[Category:Sailing ships]]

{{Sourceattribution|Lepa-lepa (dugout canoe)}}