The scale model has a simulated number plate just like the real boat.

Like with many other hobbies, once becoming passionate about model fishing vessels, the owners will always think about them, from the shapes of the hull to the engines and other special gears. In addition to the hull’s look, players also pay attention to its speed as well as how far the boats can get offshore. A professional owner means fully equipping his model fishing vessel just like a real one.

“Model fishing boats are our passion, and we equip them with up to 99% similar gears as those found on a real boat, from the wooden, steel, or composite hull to built-in engines, lights, cooling compartments, fishing nets, number plate ... When more people own model fishing boats, everyone wants to upgrade their boats to show originality and uniqueness”, Tran Van Guyn (Thuan An town) said.

Building boats to reach the big sea 

When talking about model fishing boats, many people in Thuan An pointed to Tran Van Cuong's house (25 years old, Hai Tien village). Cuong is one of the "professional" players in town. At the age of 10, Cuong started playing and building model fishing boats. Back then, his fishing vessels were mainly crafted from discarded foam sheets. Gradually, Cuong upgraded the shipbuilding materials and handcrafted his own boats. 

Handcrafting a boat takes enormous time and effort, yet the young man with little schooling is both a designer and a builder for battery-powered and two-stroke engine model boats. Using seemingly useless pieces of wood, Cuong has successfully crafted lifelike boats. “I have just completed 2 boat orders for buyers in Hue, each is worth about10 million VND. Now, I’m ready to receive new orders. Currently, model boats are commonly bought for household decoration,” Cuong excitedly shared.

The boat is being controlled by a remote device

Tran Van Cuong said that it would take at least a month to build a model boat. The crafting process of a model boat is no different from that of real boats in the harbor. Cuong bought wood pads from shipbuilders, designed, cut, assembled, painted, and finished all the equipment on board. “I had no schooling on shipbuilding. Just because I had a deep passion for fishing boats, when I was a child, I often followed dad to the shipyard and imitated the workers. I bought necessary devices like engines and controllers online and reused discarded wood from shipyards. At first, I tried making a model boat of Styrofoam until I mastered the skill, then, I switched to making wood or iron boat hulls. Although I have always craved for making model boats since childhood, as a son of the sea, I know my dream is to design real and modern boats to reach the big sea with enhanced fish catching capacity,” Cuong shared.

Model vessels are spreading far and wide, and in Thuan An town, not only Cuong but many other young people are also designing their own boats to entertain and fulfill their dreams.

“We also set up a group of model boat fanatics on Facebook to exchange design experience. The hobby of building model boats is not only a leisure pursuit, but also our responsibility as sea villagers to maintain our ancestor's profession. Crafting model boats is to dream of reaching out to the big sea,” Nguyen Huu Anh revealed.