What does the word 'panga' mean to local residents found in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico and to others in many parts of the world?

Found in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico, local residents often call the fishing boat a 'panga'. The panga is a simple small boat. It has no inside floor, no cockpit, and no extraneous beauty marks. It is seen as an efficient and cost-effective way to conduct activities in the sea, river, etc. It has superior handling ability and its carrying capacity is top notch.

Key features of the panga design are a high bow, narrow waterline beam, and a flotation bulge along the gunwale, or top edge of the hull. The high bow provides buoyancy for retrieving heavy fishing nets. This will also minimize spray coming over the bow. The narrow beam will allow the hull to be propelled by a modest sized outboard motor. The flotation bulge of the panga along the gunwale provides increased stability at high angles of roll. These are features which have linked the panga design to traditional wooden (wasen) Japanese fishing boats.

The panga is a very popular and versatile boat and it is estimated that approximately 400 - 500 are being used in the Sea of Cortez. Thousands and thousands are also found worldwide being used by all kinds enthusiasts for fishing and boat activities.