Our Top 10 Essentials List to Have BEFORE Sailing into Indonesia - All Learned from Experience
May 31, 2024 by Dreamtimesail | Language: EN Play Time: 00:32:35 | SAILING YOUTUBERS
Essential Items Before Sailing to Indonesia
We just thought we’d put together a bit of a video of 10 things that we think you need to know about before you sail off and into Indonesia. They may not be the things that you think you may need, no and they are things that we didn’t necessarily know about when we left.
1. Navigation Charts
The charts up here are a Rough Guide only and I mean extremely rough. Now there’s systems like Navionic or similar, but guess what? The charts up here are just a rough guide only. Without doubt it’s satellite imagery now. There’s a couple of uh systems that most people use we’re using Sis Planet, another one is Open CPN.
2. GPS Systems
With the SAS planet or open CPN it’s like looking at a photographic chart, the satellite image is there and you can see where your boat is. You can actually see the track when it comes down to coming into reefs or looking for an Anchorage.
3. Handheld Depth Gauge
For anchorages, there are coral shelves for you to go over and there’s 60 M on the other side and there’s 10 m on the inside. We’ve been using this little handheld beauty, it’s been wonderful. Simple, just put the dingy down, I go in with the dingy and use this Hawkeye Depth Track to measure the depth.
4. Spare Propellers
If you don’t have a spare propeller for your outboard, you’re going to do a lot of rowing and quite often you are anchoring a long way from where you need to go. If a big heavy plastic bag hits your prop it will be a bad bag or something so we’re hanging on to this one for a spare in case that one gets clagged.
5. Vinegar
Vinegar is essential to clean stainless steel, the toilets and make sure that the systems are nice and clean so we don’t get the calcium build up in the headlines.
6. Motorcycle License
If you’re even thinking about using a motor scooter, make sure you get a motorcycle license and check very closely your travel insurance whether it covers you for motocycling or not.
7. Sunscreen
Sunscreen is extremely hard to get here in Indonesia and it’s extremely expensive, a small tube is going to set you back $15 Australian dollar. It is worthwhile to buy your big pump bottles and bring them.
8. Trolleys for Fuel Storage
Fuel docks are zero here in Indonesia, so you need Jerry cans. We’ve got eight Jerry cans on deck and we pay $5 a day or quite often to go get our diesel in the markets. The beauty of it is we can actually arrange our anchor and stern line so that our bow is facing any wav action that might be happening.
9. Cash
In this country, you need cash because very rarely can you use a credit card. A minimum of 5% search charge is applied for any cards used in Indonesia.
10. Alcohol and Prescription Medications
Legally, you’re only allowed to bring one liter per person of alcohol into Indonesia. Western Union is another way to get cash before leaving Australia without any issues.
After a year of living in Indonesia on our Whitby 42 Ketch, we share our Top Ten Tips for what you need to have or organise BEFORE you sail to this wonderful but, often, very remote cruising paradise. There are no marine chandleries to duck into if something breaks and you may be surprised at what items commonly available at home are simply impossible or hyper expensive to obtain in Indonesia.
Some items on our list you may be aware of but we’re sure there will be others you’re not. We weren’t, so we put together this list of our Top Ten to help those following in our wake. While the list is based on our experiences in Indonesia, many of the Ten discussed would also be applicable when cruising in other areas. We hope you find the content helpful for your planning, particularly if you’re intending to head this way.
We’re also currently uploading fortnightly episodes of our Series 4, “Dreamtime in Indonesia” covering every destination we’ve visited since our journey began with a five day passage from Thursday Island to our check in port on Kei Kecil. Each episode is packed full of helpful information along with the amazing people and places of Indonesia.
Through Patreon or Ko-fi you can support our video productions for less than price of a coffee per episode. The funds help us offset the cost of upload data, music and editing software subscriptions, storage hard drives and to improve the quality of our shows.
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We’ve been blogging since 2011. Check it out at https://www.dreamtimesail.blogspot.com
You can find Karen's recipes and tips from Our Galley at https://dreamtimesail.blogspot.com/p/our-galley.html
All music in this episode is by Epidemic Sound.
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Rmy3z5NflU/
TECHNOLOGY & CAMERA GEAR WE USE
DJI Mavic 2 Pro is our choice in Drones https://amzn.to/2IdgmFk
Sony ZV-1 the best Vlogging camera https://amzn.to/3S1xaPc
Insta360 One x 2 kit https://amzn.to/3zqvTtA
DJI Action Cam https://amzn.to/3eLsIAH
Sony AX53 4K Handy-cam https://amzn.to/3lfARjs
For sound quality we use
Rhode VMPRRode VideoMic https://amzn.to/3k7GU8l
Rode Wireless Go - Compact Wireless Microphone System, Transmitter and Receiver https://amzn.to/2U90Gpa
Sony Gun Zoom Microphone https://amzn.to/3zavxpM
Neewer Portable Aluminum Alloy Camera 2-in-1 Tripod Monopod Max. 70"/177 cm with 3-Way Swivel Pan Head and Carrying Bag for DSLR,DV Video Camcorder https://amzn.to/2IeVfTc
We edit on a Predator Acer Laptop https://amzn.to/3v7pQrl
Sony Noise Cancelling Wireless Earphones https://amzn.to/3eFCwwf
Neewer 58-In-1 Action Camera Accessory Kit https://amzn.to/38QCWi7
OUR GALLEY
Backcountry Beef Mince. Dehydrated mice perfect for onboard protein a Ways available in the pantry. Great for pasta dishes, nachos, tacos etc .... https://amzn.to/2KdLbe7
Wasabi Powder, excellent to have onboard when fresh Wasabi is unavailable. A traditional Japanese condiment served with sushi, sashimi and soba. https://amzn.to/3lHaYcy
Compost Bin https://amzn.to/3zu5g6X
Six pack wine https://amzn.to/2KmdneR
Magnetic Knife Strip https://amzn.to/3OwcwU0
Baccarat Le Connoisseur saucepan https://amzn.to/3Pyfr02
Baccarat Le Connoisseur pot https://amzn.to/3z5N5mB
Baccarat Le Connoisseur grill https://amzn.to/3aZe23q
Baccarat Le Connoisseur sauté pan https://amzn.to/3b1wwAl
Baccarat Knife sharpener https://amzn.to/3RZGbbt
Baccarat Steak Knife set https://amzn.to/3PH0dF
Spice Racks https://amzn.to/3cDuhnp
Stove top kettle https://amzn.to/3PP4c2P
Thermos Twin Wall Coffee Plunger https://amzn.to/3cCAikj
LIFESTYLE
Cool Cabana for those sunny days on the beach https://amzn.to/3vcjS8p
Stick on Luxury - Tiles without the weight https://stickonluxury.com.au/?ref=dreamtimesail
Karen wears Nude by Nature https://amzn.to/3b0pUlV
SAFETY
Personal Locator Beacon https://amzn.to/3J0u21E
Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you make purchases from our affiliate program. This is at no extra cost to you. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you. We will tell you if they are an Affiliate Link. Above are some of the services and products we recommend and have an affiliation with all of these products we have purchased ourselves and are pleased with the results of use onboard Our Dreamtime.
Cheers Rob and Karen
0:00 Introduction
0:51 Satellite Imagery Navigation
4:22 Hand Held Depth Gauge
6:30 Spare Dinghy Propeller
9:36 Bulk Cleaning Vinegar
11:39 Motorcycles & Travel Insurance
13:30 Bulk Sunscreen
14:35 Strong Trolley
17:53 Multiple Means to Access Cash
23:15 Long Shore Lines
25:56 Alcohol
Our Top 10 Essentials List to Have BEFORE Sailing into Indonesia - All Learned from Experience Locations
- Located in Saly Bay, an excellent area for sailing and exploring the remote islands of Eastern Indonesia. (-9.3172,124.1616)
Dreamtimesail
Come sailing with us. https://www.youtube.com/Dreamtimesail?sub_confirmation+1 Rob & Karen are an ordinary Australian couple who live aboard and sail a Whitby 42 ketch, 'Our Dreamtime'. Cruising fulltime since 2011 we have sailed over 20,000 nautical miles in Australia, SE Asia, the UK and the Mediterranean. We are currently cruising remote areas of Indonesia. We provide a glimpse of our life through our vlogs, blogs, published writings and artwork. We love our nomadic existence and like to share the amazing things we see and experience as we sail to unbelievable destinations. You may already know us through our regular blogging over the past 10 years but now we have joined the video world with this YouTube channel
Channel Information:
- Joined: February 14, 2017
- Subscribers: 3,730
- Videos: 158
- Views: 315,918
- Latest Video: May 02, 2025
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- Language: en
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