Tool

Which boat should you take?

Longtail, speedboat, or ferry - the right one depends on your group, your route, and how much you care about getting into shallow water. Answer five quick questions and get a field verdict with the reasoning behind it.

Traditional Wooden Longtail (Rua Hang Yao)

เรือหางยาว

Best for: shallow water, limestone hongs. 12-25 (turbo variants 40-50) knots, 8-12 pax.

Modern Fiberglass Speedboat

เรือสปีดโบ้ท

Best for: covering distance, groups. 30-45 knots, 20-40 pax.

Inter-Island Ferry

เรือเฟอร์รี่

Best for: cheap transport, luggage. 12-18 knots, 150-300 pax.

How many people are in your group?

The three vessel types, in short

Traditional Wooden Longtail (Rua Hang Yao) (เรือหางยาว)

Hand-built using plank-on-frame methods passed down since 1950s. Engine is mounted on a long swivelling shaft - the 'long tail' that gives the boat its name. Drives a propeller at the end of the shaft, eliminating the need for a fixed shaft and stuffing box. This design is unique to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.

Modern Fiberglass Speedboat (เรือสปีดโบ้ท)

Speedboats replaced longtails on long-distance routes (Phuket to Phi Phi) starting around 1995. Used for tours that need to cover 50+km in a day. Mass-produced, not hand-built.

Inter-Island Ferry (เรือเฟอร์รี่)

Public ferries run Phuket-Phi Phi-Krabi-Lanta daily. Run by Tigerline, Songserm, and the public route. ~300-800 THB one-way.

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