When I first visited Thailand in the early fall of 1988, I immediately fell in love with the country’s long-tail boats. These wooden vessels, with their distinct, chugging engine sounds, were like nothing I’d ever seen before. The engines are often repurposed from old cars and trucks, making each boat feel uniquely rugged. They’re kind of the Swiss army knife of Thailand’s waterways – used for everything from fishing and transporting goods to shuttling tourists around. You’ll find versions of these most versatile boats not just in Thailand, but all over Southeast Asia.