Written by: Ihsanul Ikrom (A1B219040)
A wooden boat using an engine in this era is a very useful means of transportation for the people of the Batang Hari river area, a village called Pasar Terusan village which is located on the Batang Hari river has access to the other side of the village, namely the Maro Sebo ilir Village. The use of wooden boats has been applied since ancient times as public transportation to cross to the opposite village, but over time, the development of the use of wooden boats is growing and getting more advanced, making it easier for people to access the Batang Hari river
- The history of wooden boat in Terusan, Muara Bulian, Batang Hari, Jambi
The most important means of transportation when someone wants to cross a river is of course a boat, especially a wooden boat in the Canal Village area. In the past, the use of boats was very traditional, namely using oars to move the boat to cross the river which on average could carry 4-5 people depending on the size of the boat used.
Along with the history of the times, the use of machines began to be applied by the people of the Terusan village to cross the Batanghari river, the local community called the wooden boat powered by the engine as “Motor Daek” or which can be simplified as “Motor Air” or “Water Transportation”. Utilization of these machines is very effective because the speed of wooden boats will be faster and also more energy efficient because there is no need to use paddles anymore, but for the size it is still the same as an ordinary boat with a capacity of 4-5 passengers.
People’s needs when the times are getting more advanced, people want private vehicles such as motorbikes to be able to cross the Batanghari river easily, people who work as boat drivers continue to innovate, namely by making wooden boats powered by larger engines and stronger engines to be able to carry heavy transport. such as 3-4 motorbikes, heavy goods, passenger capacity and even 13-15 passengers, even 4-wheeled vehicles can be carried using the “Motor Daek” if the river water is rising, because if the river is receding, then 4-wheeled vehicles will difficulty getting down and up through the river bank. The infrastructure from the “Motor Daek” innovation is also developing, the road to “Motor Daek” is given cement making it easier for vehicles to cross and go to “Motor Daek”
There are so many Motor Daek nowadays, most of the local people work as Motor Daek drivers, so when we go to the Batang Hari River area between Pasar Terusan Village and Terusan Village, we can see a row of dozens of wooden engine boats lined up on the banks of the Batang Hari river. The place where all the Motor Daek are anchored is referred to by the local society as a “Pelayangan”. When we want to cross the Batanghari river, we have to go to the crossing, either by motorbike or on foot.
- The uniqueness of Motor Daek
Everything has its uniqueness, of course, this Motor Daek transportation is no exception. This Motor Daek has a relatively cheap price rate of Rp. 7,000.00 per 1 motorbike, if you don’t bring a motorbike, passengers don’t have to pay to cross the Batanghari river. Motor Daek has operate 24 hours a day, however, it will be quieter at night and will slow down to start crossing the Batanghari river because a Motor Daek requires at least 3 motorbikes to start crossing the Batanghari river. When there is only 1 motorbike at night, then there will be two options, namely first to wait for another motorbike until 3 motorbikes then start leaving, the second is to pay more expensively up to 20,000.00 then go straight to the Batang Hari river, the second option is known as as “Nembak“.
Furthermore, the other uniqueness is that it occurs during big days such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Motor Daek riders will get very big profits on big days, because many homecomers are going home to their hamlets and hometowns in the Canal. Motor Daek even operate non-stop on big days, even Motor Daek can accommodate more motorized vehicles than usual, which is 6-7 motorbikes or even more depending on the size of the Motor Daek used.
The next uniqueness is the union between Motor Daek owners. The unity between the owners of the Motor Daek is very visible when the Batang Hari river is receding, the sand that has started to emerge will not hinder the process of operating the boat, when the Motor Daek cannot reach the opposite port because it is blocked by a wide stretch of sand, the community of Motor Daek workers work together make a road using wood that is placed in a row along all the sand to the port on the Batang Hari river, the use of these woods is to make it easier for motorcyclists to cross the sandy road that is difficult to pass, that way, motorcyclists can pass through the sand thanks to the wood. wood as a way to the other side of the village.
The use of Motor Daek is beneficial for the community, apart from being a means of transportation for the Batang Hari river, as well as a means of livelihood and becoming a unique feature that elevates the use of Motor Daek that have been used since old times and are developing today.