Launch (boat) making

Launch is a kind of small ship or cargo and passenger boat which can be seen in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. Launches are made based on the traditional sailing boats in the Persian Gulf. But their difference is that they use an engine instead of sail. Its deck is open or semi-open. From 1950s, diesel or gasoline engines were used to move launches and today most of the launches have engine.
The Persian name of Lenj is derived from an English word of launch which is taken from a Spanish word named Lancha. On the east coast of Africa, it is known as "Dhow". In the south, the people who make the launch are called Glaf. The name of the Captain’s room is Qamare and the lower storage room is named Khan. Iran launches are mostly found in the confines of the Persian Gulf and launch making is one of the indigenous industries of the people of the Persian Gulf.
Launch making and boat making are one of the oldest and the most important handicrafts of the south of Iran and its history and background backs to Afshariyeh period. In the recent years, this industry due to the increase in sea trades and fishing had a great prosperity. The working forces of this industry are dedicated to the old "Glafs" (builders of boat and launches). The required raw materials for making launches are the moisture resistant forest wood for skeleton and high quality Indian timbers named Say for the body. Other materials are provided in the region. The work tools of Glafs are still very old and preliminary which leads to low speed work and low production. The main production centers of this industry include Bushehr, Rig Port, Gonaveh Port, Schiff Island and some other ports from southern Iran.