Mentawais boat trip
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Mentawais boat trip
G'day guys, im in the process of booking a boat charter in the mentawais starting at the end of may, I have heard that the crowds can be pretty crazy is this true? and i have also been hearing that the cheaper boat charters only stick to the popular spots and dont look around for less crowded waves, is this also the case? the boat that im lookin into is 'Irish Mist' anyone been on it? or have any other reasonably priced boats that they recommend?
Cheers!
Cheers!
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I spent two weeks (on land) in the Mentawais. My thoughts on a boat trip:
1. Go with a boat or captain that you have heard great things about. The captain makes all the difference in the world.
2. Crowds are a fact of life - at one point I saw upwards of six boats around one area that had multiple breaks. Your captain is key here in being able to know where and when to go.
most boats are charging a Gas Tax now b/c of the increase in petrol price.
1. Go with a boat or captain that you have heard great things about. The captain makes all the difference in the world.
2. Crowds are a fact of life - at one point I saw upwards of six boats around one area that had multiple breaks. Your captain is key here in being able to know where and when to go.
most boats are charging a Gas Tax now b/c of the increase in petrol price.
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G'day G'day
I will be in Indonesia from late june to late september.
Can anyone tell me whether or not there is a need to book ahead to stay at either of the surf camps in G-land?
Also, I am thinking of a ments boat trip and have looked at the boat 'Irish Mist' among others. Does anyone have any good advice?info?recommendations?alternative boat trip ideas?
cheers
I will be in Indonesia from late june to late september.
Can anyone tell me whether or not there is a need to book ahead to stay at either of the surf camps in G-land?
Also, I am thinking of a ments boat trip and have looked at the boat 'Irish Mist' among others. Does anyone have any good advice?info?recommendations?alternative boat trip ideas?
cheers
rat, you don't need to book ahead but if you're worried you should. if there is space in the camps (go bobbies) you can get a discount by going and bartering with the guys at the bobbies office at bemo corner. remember to bring a few bintangs with you. alternatively book for a few days and then barter with puma at the camp. all subject to how full it is, but especially if it's empty it's worth trying.
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thanks mate.wanto wrote:rat, you don't need to book ahead but if you're worried you should. if there is space in the camps (go bobbies) you can get a discount by going and bartering with the guys at the bobbies office at bemo corner. remember to bring a few bintangs with you. alternatively book for a few days and then barter with puma at the camp. all subject to how full it is, but especially if it's empty it's worth trying.
I'm going to Indo for three months so I probably wont book anywhere....
just get to Gland when i can then barter as i plan to stay there for a decent stint (ie. three weeks).
the Barrenjoey skippered by John McGroder is the vessel you want
John does his best to put you on uncrowded waves
apart from waves the whole experience on the Barrenjoey is fantastic - great crew, unbelievable food, safe, reliable and they give a shit... eg John will buy crays from the locals and throw the undersized ones back in front of them
http://www.sumatransurfcharters.com.au/
good luck getting on this year although I note Oct is available!
John does his best to put you on uncrowded waves
apart from waves the whole experience on the Barrenjoey is fantastic - great crew, unbelievable food, safe, reliable and they give a shit... eg John will buy crays from the locals and throw the undersized ones back in front of them
http://www.sumatransurfcharters.com.au/
good luck getting on this year although I note Oct is available!
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ahhh thankyou thankyoumozzquito wrote:the Barrenjoey skippered by John McGroder is the vessel you want
John does his best to put you on uncrowded waves
apart from waves the whole experience on the Barrenjoey is fantastic - great crew, unbelievable food, safe, reliable and they give a shit... eg John will buy crays from the locals and throw the undersized ones back in front of them
http://www.sumatransurfcharters.com.au/
good luck getting on this year although I note Oct is available!
i was told about the Barrenjoey but couldnt remember its name!! also seen it in a few surf flicks.....
thanks for the help...hopefully i can squeek onto a decent charter since im going solo
Mentawais Boat Trip
Yep John and the Barrenjoey are very popular. We booked the boat for a March 09 trip in Oct 07?? Crazy, but we hope the crowds are kept at bay by going early and with a good skipper etc.
Hope this year goes real quick!
Hope this year goes real quick!
I went on my first trip to the mentawais last year and it was a learning experience. The waves were awesome, our boat was good but unfortunately our skipper wasn't . Our charter had been advertised as having an Aussie skipper who surfs (which it did have up until a month before we got on the boat), but unfortunately we got lumbered with a rotund sweaty pomgolian who had never surfed in his life and could care less about us scoring good waves . We did get some
epic waves but it was more in spite of our skipper than because of him. We were all keen to hunt out emptier waves but he was intent on sticking to the "milk run" spots - probably to save fuel.
I would research the boat/skipper situation as it will make a huge difference in the quality of your trip. The boats I heard good things about up there were The Barrenjoey, The Mangalui (Matt Cruden), The Indies 2 (Arthur -not sure of his sirname) and the Huey (not sure of the skipper).
Good luck sorting a boat you fingers crossed you get swell.
epic waves but it was more in spite of our skipper than because of him. We were all keen to hunt out emptier waves but he was intent on sticking to the "milk run" spots - probably to save fuel.
I would research the boat/skipper situation as it will make a huge difference in the quality of your trip. The boats I heard good things about up there were The Barrenjoey, The Mangalui (Matt Cruden), The Indies 2 (Arthur -not sure of his sirname) and the Huey (not sure of the skipper).
Good luck sorting a boat you fingers crossed you get swell.
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Thanks chong...Chong wrote:I went on my first trip to the mentawais last year and it was a learning experience. The waves were awesome, our boat was good but unfortunately our skipper wasn't . Our charter had been advertised as having an Aussie skipper who surfs (which it did have up until a month before we got on the boat), but unfortunately we got lumbered with a rotund sweaty pomgolian who had never surfed in his life and could care less about us scoring good waves . We did get some
epic waves but it was more in spite of our skipper than because of him. We were all keen to hunt out emptier waves but he was intent on sticking to the "milk run" spots - probably to save fuel.
I would research the boat/skipper situation as it will make a huge difference in the quality of your trip. The boats I heard good things about up there were The Barrenjoey, The Mangalui (Matt Cruden), The Indies 2 (Arthur -not sure of his sirname) and the Huey (not sure of the skipper).
Good luck sorting a boat you fingers crossed you get swell.
I've heard tales similar to yours.... hope you didnt pay the bastards too much.
thanks again for the info.
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I have another question for those in the know....
I plan to take 4 boards to Indo (i will be there for 3 months)...
will i be coughing up excess baggage fees for all the internal flights as well as the international flights???.... so when i fly from denpasar to singapore... then singapore to padang for a charter boat... will i be held up with 4 boards??
any info would be appreciated
I plan to take 4 boards to Indo (i will be there for 3 months)...
will i be coughing up excess baggage fees for all the internal flights as well as the international flights???.... so when i fly from denpasar to singapore... then singapore to padang for a charter boat... will i be held up with 4 boards??
any info would be appreciated
you're only allowed 3 boards into bali. that is to stop people dodging import taxes on boards when they sell them. you can get thru with four a few ways, but that's the rule. the other stops i don't think have a number policy but will have their own baggage rules. if it were me i'd just try it and deal with issues as they arise.
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