Why are Indies Trader boats the best alternative?

1. Our trips are 20% longer than the other boats.

2. We go further and travel more in search of the best, uncrowded waves. Everyone knows fuel is expensive now - the price doubled last year and this year it has doubled again. We make sure we have enough margin to concentrate on getting the best waves no matter how many miles we have to travel.

3. We have better food prepared by western chefs and all drinks are included. We feel that the last thing you need to do on a surf trip is worry about the small stuff so we decided to just throw everything in for one price. Check whether you’re going to end up with a large bar tab when comparing prices.

4. Reliability: We maintain a fully staffed office in Padang, our own workshop and warehouse, our own repair facility and wharf. We have ex-pat engineers and shipwrights. Our boats are better maintained and if something does go wrong we have someone that can fix it, have the spare parts on hand, and have the logistical ability to solve problems that would end your trip with other operators. We don’t cancel trips, we don’t leave people stranded, we always come through...

5. Safety: Our vessels are insured and surveyed. If you get hurt we will get you out of  there and into professional care faster than anyone else. We provide Medivac insurance that works. We carry the most extensive first aid and medical kits.

6. Staff: Our qualified Captains, Chefs, Engineers, and Crew are the highest paid in the Industry. You get what you pay for! Many of our staff have been with us over 10 years some as long as 20.

Why does Indies Trader do longer trips than other boats? Our trips are 12 days to make sure you have great surf on your trip! It is a matter of odds! The swell cycle in the Indian Ocean is 3 to 4 on, 3 to 4 off, 3 to 4 on. We learnt this in the days before there was  internet surf forecasting. What this means is that if you spend 10 days out there you can get skunked if you get a whole swell off cycle and a dropping and rising part of a new cycle. If you spend 12 days you are guaranteed at least one swell and generally get two on your trip. On a 10 day trip, worst case, you can arrive as the swell is peaking, then dropping for 3 days, then deal with a 4 day flat spell. Why risk flying to the other side of the world for a surf trip and not stack the odds of scoring in your favor?

Other companies claim they have faster boats... Isn’t faster better? Faster is sometimes better if you can afford it. The reality is with today’s fuel prices no one is cruising faster than 10 knots even if their boats are capable of going faster. There are a lot of exaggerated claims. For example on one of our competitor's website they claim a 2,000 mile range at 26 knots. Truth?  The boat did 24 knots once when new and unloaded, it actually has a range of less than 500 nm. Spends most of the time doing 8 knots and can maintain a max speed of 14 knots loaded. You are better off with a bigger more comfortable boat that can do 10 knots all the time than a smaller lighter boat designed to plane that is only doing eight to ten knots. Remember the boat is essentially a floating hotel, the actual quality of accommodation and personal space onboard is more important than than saving half an hour getting between breaks.