The Definitive List of Mentawai
Surf Boats

The Asia is a typical Indo style boat, similar to the other 75-80′ Indo boats like the Oasis, Malaleuca etc. They claim to be the cheapest charter in the Mentawais – with dorm style accommodations for 8 plus another 3 room cabin for 11 guests total.

The Barrenjoey is an Australian built sailboat. John McGroder and his wife Belinda have been operating her since about 2000 and John is an accomplished captain. He skippered the MV Indies Trader during parts of the Quiksilver Crossing before buying his own boat, the Barrenjoey. Accommodation is dorm style + 2 private cabins.

The Bintang is a well known boat in the Ments – 115′ long (tied for the longest boat in the ments with the Star Koat 2) but also having that traditional sailboat look. Many sailboats include their bowsprit and back swimming platforms in length. She was built in Perth in 1988, but went through a refit in 2017. As is the case with most sailboats, accommodations are dorm style below deck.

Built in an Indo style, but by westerners to accommodate wider and taller areas, with lots of room – 10 surfers per trip in the dorm style cabin.

The Crystal Clear is a new catamaran, operated by long time boat captain around indo, Moose. She is a new boat, built in 2016 – being uniquely yellow colored.

The D’bora is a large Indo boat (80′) similar in shape to the Oasis or Malaleuca or its sister ship the Indo Satu. Guests will sleep in a shared dorm style space for 8, plus another area for 2 more surfers for a total of 10 guests. The D’Bora and Indo Satu are operated by Mentawai Daze.

A unique boat for the Ments, as it is a Japanese patrol vessel. It has been maintained and operated by Sooly since 2005, with a new refit in 2018. They proudly state they have never missed a day of surf due to mechanical issues. Shared dorm style sleeping for 8 plus some private cabins for a total of 10 surfers.

The Trader 3 is one of the most luxurious and iconic boats in the Mentawais. The original MV Indies Trader has a rich history of discoveries, and was the first charter boat in the Mentawai Islands / Sumatra, and though that boat has moved on to the Marshall Islands, the Trader 3 continues the legacy, and offers supreme comfort, range, satellite internet, jet ski and more – for those who want to pull out all the stops. 24/7 Satellite Internet lets you go further out and still have access to surf and weather forecasts, as well as emails and messages to back home. You don’t have to hang out near the crowded cell towers.

The Indo Satu is a new boat, built in a classic indo style with wood trim. She is run by the owners of the D’bora. Guests stay in shared dorm style accommodations below, with up to 8 surfers.

The Jiwa (meaning “soul”) is an Indonesian sail boat with dorm style accommodations below deck for up to 10 guests. The main hang out area is on the shaded top deck with a comfortable sitting area. Surf guide, former UK pro surfer Eugene – with many trips heading north, but also doing trips in the Mentawais.

The Kai Dua (Kaimana 2) is bigger sister to the Kai Satu (Kaimana 1), built in 2013. She has a shorter overall length at 75′ (compared to 80′) but has a large main deck and upper deck to give a lot more room for larger groups so you have plenty of room (standard 10 or max 12).

The Kai Satu (Kamaina or Kaimana 1) is being renovated for the 2019 season. She is the twin boat to the Malaleuca, similar to the 80′ Indo style boats, with 6 double berth cabins below and a shaded area on the top deck.

She is an aluminum catamaran that was built in Australia in 1995, and refit in 2007. There are 4 triple rooms which can fit 12 surfers total. Similar form factor to the Addiction but a bit smaller (62′ compared to 80′).

The King Millenium 1 is the cheaper of the two King Milleniums, featuring traditional style Indo building and 3 double and 1 Quadruple bedroom below.

The Aileoita is another Indo style boat, that comes in at 70′ and can fit 10 surfers. Good for budgets if you are ok to stack in 10 people on a relatively small boat.

The Kuda Laut is one of the smallest boats available for charter in the Mentawais, coming in at 58′ (Switchfoot, Tengirri and Orca Laut are also under 60′). She is an Indo built sailboat, with an extensive refit in 2018. Shared dorm style accommodation below for up to 8 surfers.

The Maha Bintang is not to be confused with the Bintang Sailboat, surfers just like naming their boats after beer they like! She is a smaller (62′) yacht built in 2010, good for smaller crews, with a max capacity of 8 surfers in 2 x 4 person rooms.

The Mahogany is an Indo style boat, built in traditional Bugis / Sulawesi style in Indonesia timber.

The Malaleuca is an indo style boat with lots of room for guests in 6 cabins and a large covered upper deck area. They do not try to be the fanciest boat in Indo, but claim to be the best value.

The Mangalui (or Mangalui Ndulu meaning “wave searcher”) is a long time Mentawai boat, designed by Matt Cruden and Greg Spindler, arriving into Indo in 1996. The boat is now partnered with Resort Latitude Zero (in the Telos). Matt does not captain every charter, but works with experienced captains. Guests stay in dorm style bunks for 8 + 2 more near the saloon.

One of the larger boats in the Ments (fourth only to her sister the Star Koat 2, the Ratu Motu, and the Bintang), with private cabins as opposed to some of the shared dorm style sleeping arrangements of other budget charters.

The Addiction is a mid-range/high end charter (along with the Pelagic, Trader 3 and Ratu Motu), with lots of inside the main deck due to the wide profile of the catamaran. Though up to 12 guests could fit, most charters are 10 surfers split between the 5 cabins.

The Naga Laut is a large boat which can accommodate up to 14 guests, but standard trips are anywhere from 8-12 surfers. She was built in 1999, and captained by Sumatra local Captain Ramu.

Australian built sailboat, with room for 8 guests.

The Nomad is a traditional Indo boat built in 1995, captained by the young Jake Thompson – who probably surfs better than anyone on the trip. They also offer complimentary photo service as well.

The Nusa Dewata is an Indo style boat, the first boat built in Indo specifically for surf charters back in 1992. She is a smaller sailboat, good for small groups of 5-6 surfers.

The Nusantara (also known as Samudra Biru or Blue Ocean) is a unique shaped catamaran, being the only one of its kind in the Ments. Accommodations are located below in each pontoon, with room for 5 in each.

The Oasis is an Indo style boat, similar to some of the other charters with a shaded back upper deck and 4 double berth cabins below. She became part of the Mentawai surf boats in 2007 when the owners partnered to build her.

The Orca Laut is a newer boat doing charters, but under a crew with lots of experience, including former Indies Trader crew. They claim “Champagne Barrels on a Bintang Budget” on their social media.

The MV Pelagic is the smallest of the mid-range/higher end boats in Indo (Trader 3, Ratu Motu, Addiction), with 4 double rooms for up to 8 surfers. She was built in Australia in 2002 by Fine Entry Marine. Wheelhouse has internet connected computer.

The Raja Elang is an Australian built yacht, captained by Tony “Doris” Eltherington. Doris is a longtime friend of Martin Daly, and former skipper of some of the Indies Trader boats. He is a great surfer, and also known for finding and rescuing Brett Archibald, who fell over during the crossing from Padang and tread water for 27 hours.

The Santa Lusia is a budget charter boat which can fit 11 guests in shared, dorm style accommodations. She is a 65 foot Indo style boat.

The Santana Laut is a unique boat, being a converted Trawler / Fishing boat. She has the industrial look with a high up deck and can fit up to 12 guests.

The Saraina is an Indo style boat built in 2003, and refit in 2014. Owned and operated by Mentawai Local Dedi and surfer Trent Woodleigh. Bunk style accommodations below, with 2 rooms each with 5 beds.

The Sibon Baru (formerly the Bohemian Baru) is a 62′ catamaran, which can fit up to 12 guests in 6 rooms. Built in 2011, she has the sister boat run by the same company, the Sibon Jaya.

The Sibon Jaya is the slightly larger (70′) sister to the Sibon Baru. Built in 2015, she is new with nice interiors.

Built from the ground up in 2002, the Southern Cross is an Indo style charter. Dorm style sleeping for 8 plus 2 private cabins.

The longest boat in the islands, coming in at 115′ (Tied with the Bintang, and the Ratu Motu right behind it at 110 and her sister the Moon Palikir at 100′). The Star Koat 2 was built in 2018 and has plenty of room, though most charters will have 12 surfers. You don’t want to go with too many more surfers even on the larger boats because of the insta-crowd factor of pulling up to a lineup.

Australian built charter boat, with 2 dorm style sleeping areas and one private cabin. Samia and Marco are Brazilian operators, formerly working with the Santa Lusia, but taking on the Swell Lines as of 2018.

Switchfoot is another of the smaller catamarans like the Tengirri and King Millenium 2. She was built in Java by a German boat building company, commissioned by captain Jason Quinn. She is considered a mid range luxury boat, especially for smaller groups, though she can take up 10 guests in 5 double berth cabins.

The Tengirri is an Australian built catamaran, the only one in the Mentawais coming in under 50′. It can go quick when it wants, up to 17 knots. She has been operating in Indo since 2005 and is good for small groups (up to 8) but at half the size of some of the other boats in the Indo, you might want to stick with less surfers.