Kinmen stands alone in the sea. Once coming to Singapore, it was natural that Kinmenese would make their living on the water. Fortunately, the water transport trade was booming in Singapore. When sailors came ashore, businessmen carrying their wares would need to hire sampans, and Kinmenese gradually came to skipper most of these.
金門孤懸海上，到了星島自然是靠水吃飯，也恰巧新加坡轉口貿易興盛，船員上岸、商家談生意、載貨，都需舢舨做交通工具，金門人遂成舢舨業的主力。