The vessels provided armed longboats, armed barges, launches, and armed gigs. Speedboats and longboats are the major form of transport between Kapit and Belaga. Portuguese soldiers row around the waters on longboats mercilessly spearing survivors. Lockyer's men sailed in 42 longboats, each armed with a small carronade. These were longboats that included detachments of Marines. Thieves and pirates raided the longboats, killing the crew and selling the goods. The area was also subjected to repeated encounters with Saxon longboats along the coast. A small expedition dragged longboats over the sand bar and explored the Swan River. The island has one shallow harbour with a launch ramp accessible only by small longboats. Tollemache was carried back towards the squadron by one of the few longboats still afloat. Both explosions come scarily near the longboats. Duarte Pacheco and his troops went back on their longboats. Related to bomb ketchs, mortar longboats were designed to operate in shallow waters. The British also lost two longboats sunk and had several others damaged. They were able to sink two of the attacking longboats and damaged many others.