Water Pump Powered Boat.

Water-pump-powered boat races are now a craze at many rural kampong along Sarawak River and also at longhouse along Rajang River attracting not only the young but also people in their 60s.

Local water pump power boat rider.

 The boat costs RM300, the water pump costs another RM300 and the propeller RM10. Together with other fittings and accessories such as a steering wheel, helmet, life jacket and decorations, the boat will cost between RM800 to RM1,000,” Rider said.

 Boats were made of plywood and other woods such as gerunggang, medang or engkabang obtained from the nearby jungleThe kampung folk say the dry weight (minus water-pump engine) of a single boat in the water pump engine category is about 13kg to 14kg.

Local rider say handling a water pump racing boat in a proper competition is ‘so much safer’ than taking part especially in illegal motorbike racing.
“This is because getting ditched into the water is less dangerous than landing on a hard surface —like a road, for instance, during a motorcycle race. Besides, it is not illegal to race a boat in the river.”
BUT during the recent" Kuching City Local Council water festival " this powerboat competition was cancelled  by the organizer because they say It's dangerous .