At a time when modern materials are pushing traditional crafts aside, a story in Bar continues to resist oblivion. At its heart is the Bokovac family, who have spent decades preserving the craft of wooden boatbuilding—today transforming it, through regattas, workshops and the restoration of the training ship Jadran, into a powerful narrative of tradition, identity and Montenegrin maritime heritage.
As Miroslavka Lala Bokovac, executive director of the “Bokovac” Caulking Workshop, explains, the roots of the family business date back to 1965, when Pero Bokovac began repairing wooden fishing boats.
– It all started back in 1965. Pero Bokovac, my husband’s father, was one of the oldest boatbuilders and craftsmen on the Adriatic. At the time, only wooden boats were used, so that was all that was repaired – says Miroslavka.
Watching his father, Nenad naturally stepped into the craft. He learned gradually, gaining knowledge and experience, and eventually took on the responsibility of ensuring that the family tradition would not only survive, but evolve with time.
With the arrival of plastic and modern vessels, wooden boats slowly began to disappear from everyday life. That was precisely the moment when the idea emerged to breathe new life into this tradition.
– When I became part of the story, I realised how beautiful and valuable it was—but also how close it was to disappearing. People were neglecting wooden boats, and I had the idea to revive one of the most beautiful types of vessels – the arsenalka – she explains.
This marked the beginning of the restoration of the first arsenalka from the Bay of Kotor—a boat that, as she recalls, was practically beyond repair.
– We bought it in a condition where it was only fit for firewood or disposal. But with a lot of persistence, discussions and joint effort, we managed to restore it. From that single boat, we have grown into a fleet of ten arsenalkas and one korčulanka – she says.
From that initial idea, a much broader mission developed. Miroslavka later founded the NGO Caulking Workshop, through which she promotes traditional boatbuilding both in Montenegro and abroad. In 2015, a sailing club dedicated to preserving lateen sail navigation was also established.
Today, she is both the club’s president and the company’s director, while the family has directed its expertise towards one of the most important symbols of Montenegrin maritime heritage—the training ship Jadran.
– When we started working on the Jadran, we also established the company. We focus on woodwork, meaning the restoration of wooden elements on the ship. That is our craft—what we know best – she explains.
Working on the Jadran holds special significance for them—not only as a professional reference, but as an opportunity to contribute to preserving one of the country’s most important maritime symbols.
– The Jadran is an ambassador of Montenegro when it comes to maritime heritage. It is both a school and a classroom for young cadets. It is important that they learn not only how to sail a traditional vessel, but also how to maintain its wooden elements. Ideally, that knowledge should start right here, in our workshop – says Bokovac.
Alongside their work on preserving wooden boats, the Bokovac family and their club also organise regattas. Among them, Miroslavka highlights the event “Sails and the Adriatic – a fusion of tradition and community”, held every year in Bar to mark May 21st, Montenegro’s Independence Day.
– That is our most important regatta. We organise it every year, and for us, each edition feels equally significant—jubilee or not – she says.
The event extends beyond a single day. This year’s programme begins on May 19 and includes a series of accompanying activities—educational sessions, talks, panels and social gatherings. Bokovac announces that this year’s edition will be particularly strong, with participants from several countries.
Teams have already registered, and this year promises to be especially dynamic. Guests are arriving from Italy and Croatia, with additional participants expected.
Last year’s regatta brought together crews from Italy, Croatia and Slovenia, and expectations for this year are even higher. One particularly interesting detail is the arrival of a boat sailing from Hvar, despite logistical challenges.
Although their fleet attracts significant interest, Bokovac emphasises that their vessels are not used commercially.
– These boats are not for rent. They belong to the club and serve exclusively to promote Montenegro in a beautiful, traditional way. We do not promote ourselves through Montenegro—we promote Montenegro through what we preserve.
That philosophy captures the essence of their entire work. Instead of turning tradition into a tourist attraction, the Bokovac family has remained committed to craftsmanship, restoration and serious, dedicated work.
– We are not involved in tourist rides or similar activities. Our focus is on building and restoring boats, especially our work on the Jadran. That requires full dedication and responsibility—you cannot sit on two chairs at once – she says.
Their work, however, has long surpassed Montenegro’s borders. Bokovac confirms that their boats have been exported abroad, including to the United Arab Emirates.
– We have exported to several countries. Our most recent major project included three boats for Abu Dhabi. I returned from there just two days before the war broke out. We established cooperation around sailing and wooden boat traditions, and their team announced they would join our regatta—if circumstances allow.
Despite challenges, their enthusiasm remains unwavering. From their workshop in Bar continue to emerge boats, ideas, events—and a clear message: tradition is not a burden of the past, but a value that can shape the future.
The story of the Bokovac family is not just about wood, boats and sails. It is a story of persistence—of people who recognised the beauty in something others considered outdated, and from a nearly discarded vessel created a fleet that today preserves a piece of Montenegro’s maritime soul.
Despite their success, there is another side to this story—a daily struggle for basic working conditions. Bokovac points to the long-standing issue of lack of space in the Bar marina for a club dedicated to traditional sailing.
– We are practically the only club in Montenegro preserving traditional sailing, yet we do not have a permanent place in the marina. Every year we fight the same battle just to be allowed to place a container. It is extremely difficult to operate when we constantly transport equipment back and forth between the workshop and the marina. I believe we deserve at least a small part of the marina—because it can only benefit from us – she concludes.
