An ein Papyrusbündel, das als Kiel dient, werden seitlich weitere Bündel angefügt, bis die gewünschte Bordwandhöhe erreicht ist. In gleichen Abständen werden auch in Längsrichtung Stauden angebunden. Ein starkes Bündel wird so in den Bootsinnenraum gepreßt, daß es die Bordwände voneinander trennt und gleichzeitig als Sitz dient.

Papyrus boats of small size, like the one shown in the film, are generally used for fishing at Lake Tana. The boats suck water and stark to sink during use. They have to be dried after each ride. Having been in use for about half a year, a boat must be exchanged. The technique of building a boat is comparatively simple. A first bundle of papyrus-shrubs is formed and lengthened by further short bundles to reach the presumed boatlength. This bundle (the keel) is stiffened by a wooden stick. Then, more bundles are added successively on both sides (each bundle has to be lengthened again and is tightened to the forgoing bundle). Gradually the boat's sides rise. Before the bow and the stern of the boat are tightened, the bundles are pruned ro reduce the odd shrubs. To keep the easy collapsible plait in a "Boat"-form, an extra thick bundle is pressed into the interior space. This bundle is also used as a seat.