Pagadian splash: Fishers develop wooden jet skis

PAGADIAN CITY—Waxing sentimental about past island-hopping boat trips around Pagadian Bay, two fishermen from Barangay White Beach, a small village near the edge of the city’s airport, developed wooden water scooters that serve as an affordable alternative to upmarket fiberglass jet skis.

When barangay chair Rey Rabanos saw that his unused banca still had a good hull, he longed for the times he and his family would go on picnics on their boat, circling the islets or strolling down sandbars in the unpolluted bay.

The village chief thought his community would be a good jump-off point for locals or visitors who want to go the popular Isla Puting Balas, a particularly scenic sandbar just a few kilometers away,

But he had to provide them a means of transport. So he drafted the services of Archie Cabillo, a seasoned carpenter and go-to repairman in the fishing settlement, in modifying his unused boat into something more exciting and touristy.

Three weeks to complete

The result was a “wooden jet ski” almost indistinguishable from the aquatic rides of the rich who treat the bay as a splashy playground.

“It took us three weeks to complete the modified jet ski, buying one part at a time, like a few [pieces of] plywood, a pack of nails, paint, among others,” Cabillo said. “We did it slowly since it was our first time to do such a design.”

Rabanos and Cabillo fitted a pumpboat engine into the remodeled banca and connected a bicycle handlebar to a pipe extension that could steer the rudder.

The watercraft can be driven and switched on and off like a motorbike, Rabanos said. “If you want it to move like a real jet ski, you can install a bigger engine to make it faster.”

His new toy only cost around P40,000 to build and could go up to P70,000 if a more powerful engine is installed —still just a quarter of the price of a fiberglass water scooter.

LEAVING ON A JET SKI Rey Rabanos, chair of Barangay White Beach in Pagadian City, takes his homemade wooden water scooter for a spin on Pagadian Bay. Second photo shows a carpenter working on a water scooter made from the hull of Rabanos’ long-unused fishing boat. —LEAH AGONOY

Online inquiries

Rabanos’ pleasure craft has piqued the interest of potential buyers after images of the scooter went viral on social media. On Thursday, Rabanos said he had received many inquiries online on how they can place orders.

Among them was a beach resort owner in Tukuran town in Zamboanga del Sur who had ordered two units and already made a downpayment.

Rabanos welcomed the opportunity to manufacture more water scooters, hoping to provide extra income for his neighbors.

Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co has commended Rabanos’ initiative and its potential to boost tourism in the city, particularly in Isla Puting Balas.