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Lepa (ship)
Boats of the Southeast Asian Sama-Bajau people / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lepa, also known as lipa or lepa-lepa, are indigenous ships of the Sama-Bajau people in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. They were traditionally used as houseboats by the seagoing Sama Dilaut. Since most Sama have abandoned exclusive sea-living, modern lepa are instead used as fishing boats and cargo vessels.[1]
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Lepa are medium-sized boats, usually averaging at 30 to 50 ft (9.1 to 15.2 m) in length, and around 5 to 7 ft (1.5 to 2.1 m) in width; with the hull averaging at 5 ft (1.5 m) in height. Lepa is also known as pidlas, among land-dwelling Sama. Very large lepa are known as kumpit. They can reach lengths of 50 to 120 ft (15 to 37 m) and are most often used as trade ships.[2] Family lepa usually tow smaller daughter ships, like the buggoh or the birau. Lepa can also be used as a generic term for "boat" in the various Sama-Bajau groups; the vinta, for example, is also known as lepa-lepa. Lepa nowadays are increasingly being replaced by motor-powered outrigger canoes, the pambot ("pump boat").[1][3][4][5][6]
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