Keel and ribs
Ironwood (ulin)
Exceptionally dense and resistant to rot and marine borers.
7-day itinerary
A week aboard,
beside the builders.
Start in Labuan Bajo, then live aboard a private phinisi off a working yard — following timber, hull, interior and rigging with the shipwrights.
- Days, Labuan Bajo return
- 7
- Days aboard a phinisi
- 5
- Days with the builders
- 4
- Komodo Airport, both ways
- LBJ
The week
Seven days,
stage by stage.
Two days to settle in, four following the build, one to sail home.
Day
Where
Focus
Day 1
WhereLabuan Bajo
FocusArrival, fish market, artisan shops
Day 2
WhereLabuan Bajo
FocusBoard your phinisi, captain’s briefing
Day 3
WhereAt sea, then the yard
FocusPassage, coves, first visit ashore
Day 4
WhereThe yard
FocusTimber selection and shaping
Day 5
WhereThe yard
FocusPlanking, pegs and caulking
Day 6
WhereThe yard
FocusInteriors, rigging, beach farewell
Day 7
WhereLabuan Bajo
FocusReturn and airport transfer
The fish market is busiest between 6 and 10 am — worth an early start on day one.
Day four
Three timbers,
three jobs.
Logs weighing several tons are moved by hand and simple pulleys, then shaped with adzes, saws and chisels. A single rib can take a skilled builder a full day.
Some timbers cure naturally for 6–12 months before they are used.
Day five
The hull
takes its shape.
Planking is where the vessel first shows its lines — and where any misalignment would cost strength and speed.
-
Carvel planking
Planks laid edge to edge for a smooth, strong hull.
-
Bending
Leverage, heat from small fires and sheer force bring each plank into line.
-
Pasak dowels
Hardwood pegs driven by hand, swelling when wet to lock the planks tight.
-
Caulking
Cotton fibre steeped in natural oils, driven into every seam.
There are no detailed blueprints: the design lives with the master builders and passes on through apprenticeship.
Naval architecture & stabilityDay six
From strong hull
to living vessel.
Inside, cabins take shape and decks are laid. Teak is the usual choice for panelling, floors and furniture, and many interiors carry Bugis and Makassarese motifs — a luxury phinisi can have up to six en-suite cabins, a saloon and a galley.
On deck, mast steps, boom and gaff are prepared and the standing rigging set up; the sails themselves are often made off-site. The day ends on the beach, with the shipwrights and their families, a bonfire and traditional music.
The last evening belongs to the people who build the boats.
The setting
A protected sea,
a listed craft.
The voyage crosses one of Indonesia’s great protected areas, aboard a vessel type UNESCO recognises.
-
1980
Komodo NP established
Protecting life above and below the waterline.
-
1,733
Square km protected
Islands, reefs and open water.
-
6–12
Months to build a hull
Before interior work begins.
-
2017
UNESCO heritage listing
The art of phinisi boatbuilding.
FAQ
Seven-day
questions.
Where you sleep, how close you get and what each yard day covers.
Where do we sleep?
The first night is ashore in Labuan Bajo, in a clifftop villa or resort. From day two you live aboard your private phinisi, with air-conditioned en-suite cabins.
How close do we get to the builders?
Very. A guide fluent in Indonesian makes introductions, and on planking day you may help with a small, supervised task.
Is there time for the sea itself?
Yes. The passage to the yard is unhurried, with swims and snorkelling in quiet coves; dolphins and manta rays are sometimes seen on the way.
Which woods will we see?
Ironwood (ulin) for keel and ribs, teak for decks and interiors, and local hardwoods for planking. Some timber cures naturally for 6–12 months before use.
How does the week end?
With a beach dinner shared with the shipwrights and their families on day six, then a last look at the yard and the passage back to Labuan Bajo.
How long does a phinisi hull take to build?
A typical hull takes 6–12 months before interior work even begins — which is why each visit shows a different stage.
Guides
More in
Guides.
Shorter itineraries, the months to travel — and the engineering behind the hull.
Plan the voyage
A week with
the shipwrights.
Send your dates and group size. We match the yard’s build stage to your week, choose your phinisi and plan the passage.
WhatsApp +62 811-3941-4563 · bd@juaraholding.com
Operated by Komodo Luxury, part of Juara Holding Group — in Komodo marine tourism since 2015.