I’ve been interested in this type of Thai workaday vessel for ages. But I can’t find what it’s called (much less any other info such as construction, etc.) no matter how much I search; I find everything but. Best I can tell from my searches, it doesn’t qualify as a sampan, and if I search “sampan” this particular design doesn’t show up; despite a superficial resemblance it looks like something else entirely. Anyone have the goods on this?
TIA.
Thai fighter?
All it gets called is “boat” in English-language articles. It’s a commonplace vessel in its environment, nothing rare and obscure. I can find info on any other watercraft but this one. Sometimes the 'net is a huge disappointment.
What the photo doesn’t show is that both ends are identically constructed. Presumably there is no designated bow or stern per se.
I don’t know the proper name for that particular design. But around here those local flat bottomed boats are called Jon boats or a punt boat.
It does look a bit like a punt, but I don’t think it is. If it was, he’d be stood up, punting. With a pole.
Not the Thai name you presumably seek, but try https://www.google.com/search?q=thai+market+boat?
Yeah, I’ll have to punt on this one…
But “Reụ̄x tlād” is, I think… Thai for market boat.
เรือ ตลาด
That’s sort of close to what I was wondering: if the planky bits sticking out were used for [dis]embarking or what else.
That is correct, sir. It would totally narrow my search. Or, judging by my successes so far, not.
It’s as good a direction as any I’ve tried. Maybe I’ll find it there. 
… In other news, I found out that my cat likes spanakopita. I never would have guessed.
Well, at least Google understands it…
https://www.google.com/search?q=เรือ+ตลาด&tbm=isch
Thing is, for a search in English you’d need the Romanised approximation, because just as in English, Thai orthography frequently doesn’t match its pronunciation. Case in point: Sriracha. You don’t pronounce the first R. Or the name Shinawatra: you don’t pronounce the “ra”. And it gets worse.
Maybe I’ll just have to go to a Thai restaurant. It seems to be my last resource. But how embarrassing to go there (and eat, of course) and then whip out a pic, asking what it was called. Among customers I would be nominated Tool of the Year.
Bet they look at you gone off and tell you it’s a boat.
Yep. Or I’d get a frosty, “Dude. I’m from Illinois.”
So you go to Joy’s Pattaya Thai Restaurant*, ask a person that looks to be Thai and hopefully knows the region and they say XXXXXXX. And then you get to try to spell it correctly. Hope there is a translation for it, etc.
*On’s kitchen is probably closer to you (order the king’s favorite dish there, not what you’d expect)
Post your question to the Wooden Boat Forum (forum.woodenboat.com). You’ll have to sign up (free), but there are builders from around the world (including SE Asia), that can tell you the name, history, and point you toward plans. There’s even a Bilge forum (off topic and such) that makes the C&F PROCT forum look like an English society tea party. 
dave boling
I must object. Spanakopita recipes use onion, extremely bad for cats.
I got this from a buddy from Thailand:
Thai word for it is " Reụ̄x phāy" just mean Thai standard paddle boat. Reu=boat; Phay=paddle.
It looks like a George to me.
I am mindful of the risks onions pose to cats (thanks to you, as a matter of fact ). But I will point out that not all spanakopita recipes are identical, and this one did not include onions. If it had, I would not have given her some. Taken separately, she wouldn’t touch spinach, feta, or lemon. But all 3 together in combination appears to be a different story, and she readily asked for and cleaned up 3 helpings of the filling, which I didn’t expect at all.
Indeed, this is the first time I’ve heard of onions in spanakopita. Onions? The very idea. Not in my neighborhood. But I get mine from a local corner grocery that also makes East Mediterranean snacks; maybe they’re cutting corners, or this is just one particular take on the recipe.
BTW, my cat is somewhere around 23 to 24 years old right now, over 100 in cat years. True story. For an old gal she’s doing remarkably well and is a minor celebrity at the vet; they call her the Energizer Bunny, although IMO she’s a bit tottery now for that moniker, but she does keep ticking along. If she thinks I might have something that would serve as a treat, she will quick-trot my way and demand I turn it over for inspection. That’s pretty spry, and she can still jump some. I can’t claim all the credit for her health and longevity, but the keeper IS part of the equation. So no worries, Kevin.
Thanks (and to Coffee for previously offering the same). It doesn’t narrow things down on Google; in fact it just goes places far away from boaty things. What I’m getting is that “reu phay” is a general term just as “rowboat” is a general term, but not every rowboat is a dory. So I’m looking for a more specific nomenclature. Asking the Wooden Boat Forum might be the way to go.