Boat Life: How We Get Supplies On A Remote Island
We used to stock up like we were preparing for the zombie apocalypse. We would fill every locker, bilge, cabinet, drawer, and shelf of our sailboat. It was equal parts of us preparing for unknown scarcity and economy.
Would everything we want, and need be available elsewhere and if it was, would it be affordable?
But, after a few years of living aboard and sailing to some of the world’s most remote island nations, we’ve learned what should have been obvious right from the start.
No matter where in the world we end up, if there are people, there will be food and supplies. It just may not be what we are used to or, worst case, the exact part our foreign vessel needs.
The more time we spend sailing and living in remote places, the more our ideas of what we really need and find pleasure in, evolves. Because experience and hindsight are semantically related.
Our need to fill the bilge with beer, beans, and rice has diminished. But there are some things we still stock up on when we find them or pay the big bucks to ship across an ocean and wait patiently on.
Because how we stock and provision our boat has a lot to do with what food and supplies we will have access to along our journey.
This is why we’re taking you shopping today. It’s potential foresight for our fellow sailors on a similar route and because it’s fascinating to see what is and isn’t available on such a faraway land.
What Do You Want To See Next?
Are there other aspects of living on a sailboat or on a remote island you would like to know about? If so, let us know in the comments. We’re always keen to hear your suggestions.
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CP
My husband and I love your show and you two! Thank you for sharing your adventures with us. Nikki, you look absolutely beautiful, as always in this episode. Could you please share the details of what make-up (including eye makeup and eye shadow) that you used for this episode? Not sure if you every do tutorial videos on make-up application, but would love to see how you achieve this natural glowing beautiful look. Thanks so much!
Curious Minion
Hi there! Nikki will still see your comment, but I thought I’d get you the link to Nikki’s foundation from the Gear Store: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/product/nikkis-makeup She’s been using it for years and loves it! There’s a link and a discount code for you too!
Curious Minion
Doug Box
Are you still working with SurfShark? Do you have an affiliate program with them?
Curious Minion
SurfShark does sponsor some of their videos, like the last one. Go to 7:10 in this video for the discount code: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/how-to-yacht-insurance
Curious Minion
Jeffrey Stenberg
That was fun, I love shopping. Bits and Bobs. Get creative mixing foods to make amazing meals, cream of mushroom would be one of my wants. I did see Barney in the clouds. My wife thinks I’m crazy seeing thinks in clouds. Thankful for what we have, make do.
Angela
Thanks I enjoyed that vid (not that I don’t the others!). Most of those product brands I recognise from here/NZ. I’m like … ‘oh we’ve got that and that and that’, thanks for making me smile 🙂
Daniel Pierce
Boat insurance: can’t you haul out where your boat was stored, and fly in a surveyor? Expensive, but way cheaper than $50k. You might even be able to pool funds if other cruisers in the area also need surveys.
I watch a half dozen videos today, not sure which mentioned the insurance issue. Also went back through my watched videos and made sure they were flagged thumbs up! Several were not. My bad.
Curious Minion
Would be nice but you can’t fly anybody to Tonga because the border is still closed.
Curious Minion
Peter Adamson
I thought that if you labelled a crate “Yacht in Transit” that that bypassed duties since it is going to a boat that is not really in the destination country but moving thru.
JB
When you ship the crate, do you pay duties on all that stuff? If so, how so?
Do you just list everything with values, or do they for through it?
Pam McClure
I really enjoyed this one. I like seeing the day to day in a whole other place. It might sound like a bore but it isn’t. It’s interesting.
Larry Zetterlind
Love you guys. Been watching you since your rv Sprinter days. One thing that has bothered me lately. This video made me more curious? A starter for your generator? I would think that getting your generator working would be a very high priority item. Someday you are going to be able to move on and you will want it for water purification and other reasons. Yes, the customs and shipping might be costly but it seems something for safety you need. Why have you not had a starter shipped in? Is there more to your generator problem besides that? What am I missing? Larry Zetterlind, Chief Pilot, Hartzell Propeller, retired.
Curious Minion
They initially thought it was the starter & tried rebuilding it, but there are some other issues with it as well. The guys in the boat yard also looked at the generator and they couldn’t get it running either. So no, not worth paying $250 to get a started shipped in when it might not fix the problem.
Curious Minion
Larry Zetterlind
Sorry to hear, I hope you find a solution!
Gary
Things move slow here in Wisconsin too. Just called to have my boat worked on. Cant get in until June. Here I thought I was early getting it in. Ugh. Keep sending the warmth and blue waters. Love it.
About Creativity
Very good.
Alan Solomon
WOW again. I love going with you guys. Its fun going with you guys.
If you have a taste for multiple things you have to visit multiple outlets. I thought the store “Snabs” had many familiar items including Kirkland products. Many of the stores you visited were amazing that they were able to get all they have in the middle of the Pacific.
I am surprised I did not see or hear anything about Nikki’s favorite, Ben & Jerrys ice cream. Do you still like Ben & Jerrys? Is that sold on the Island there?
Continued Tropical living a day at a time.
Nikki Wynn
It is nice to have a few familiar things even if they are twice the price. It’s the literal price we pay to be in paradise. 😉 As for ice cream, only one brand and it’s very basic. It’s certainly not Ben & Jerry’s quality. Which still isn’t my favorite but very fancy for islands and a delightful score when we do find it! It’s been so long since I have had access to mainstream ice cream I don’t know what my fave would be anymore.
Diane Silverstein
As always, a great video! Nice to see how a shopping day goes! Thanks for sharing with us. Stay well and happy 😁❤️
Jeanette Brennan
Tremendous peek into your everyday life — what an adventure! Enjoyed the shopping trip immensely and made me very grateful for my everyday life – I’m rather spoiled it seems… 😂 Stay safe and thanks for all you do. 💖
Wishing
I love love watching you both!!! It is a small piece of tropical life that I enjoy! I can only admire how you just take day by day in stride! Love watching every minute. Thank you for sharing your lives in the beautiful world.
Cecilia
LOVE the videos and what you share of your amazing adventures.
Deborah Kerr
Good exercise! I really really appreciate being spoiled by the ability to get anything at all here in the States with little effort!
Keep smiling 😎 Love your stories!
Nikki Wynn
And we enjoy being spoiled by the ease and availability when we visit! Makes a trip home extra exciting!
Pat
Great day shopping with you two. Glad you both are doing well
WC from LA
Great video. You really captured some of the local life here. Thanks! Would love to see something about the local economy. How do people earn their money to ship these items? What money comes into the island vs moving from person to person around the island? How much does it cost to live there?
Dan S Brown
Thanks for the video. I was wondering why you didn’t mention the airport as a way to get stuff faster? Cheers
Nikki Wynn
We did, that is using FedEx air. It’s still a 3 week minimum wait time by air.
Mark Byron
Thanks for satisfying my curiosities. (Ha ha). Your video is very comprehensive too! Plus, you show how shopping for stuff can be fun and an adventure. I love your endings and can see the beauty and feel your satisfaction. 😎
William Domb
Gal (?) going into store wearing a rattan mat?
Nikki Wynn
That is the Ta’ovala. It’s a traditional woven mat that is worn by Tongan’s like a suit and tie is worn by westerners. All government workers must wear one as a way to show respect and authority.
JOHN SCHRETLEN
What a delightful video. There is always a delay getting things shipped to smaller islands but I was quite impressed with the variety at the speciality shop (with all the Kirkland branded items) and the boat shop.
Only question I have is about gifts. If their mom sends a $1000 laptop would there still be a 40% duty? (See where I’m going with this?)
Curious Minion
They asked – still have to pay the taxman.
Curious Minion
William Domb
There has GOT to be an app that would connect up peeps traveling, say, to Tonga to carry something for you. Like a computer.
Used to be a service online designed specifically for Ecuador, but it died.
Michael
Yeah. That makes a lot of sense.
Curious Minion
Maybe during regular times but the border is still closed in Tonga. Even citizens trying to repatriate are having problems just physically getting to the island. And you’d still have to pay the duty on it.
Curious Minion
Curious George
I just love watching all your videos (since trying to decide what boat to buy). Down to earth reality. And I get to relive my youth through you guys!
mary van
It is a good thing you don’t have to go very often. It’s a full day without transportation.
Glad you were able to get a ride home. 🙂
Nikki Wynn
We try to get as much as we can carry. Definitely not something we want to do every week. Although, we would probably be in better shape if we did. 💪🏼
Ellen
You two always lighten my mood and carry me away to wherever you may be. I am truly grateful and totally enjoy time spent with you.
Be well and safe and happy !
Nikki Wynn
🤗 and we like having the company, so thanks for joining us!
James Kim
Keep Safe….. Cheers and God Bless.
Bonnie Morris
I have been following you since your RV days and love both those lifestyles. I am usually a motor home full timer, however with Covid, I have been in a house for a year. I sold my 30′ Class A and just bought a 26′ Lazy Daze which I am trying to get set up for my next adventure…heading to the Canadian Rockies.
I am 67 and travel with my two dogs and two cats, who are all anxious to start moving again.
My question is, I would like to learn more about documenting my travels, if for nothing else, my children to have and to show people who dream of hitting the road, that it can be done when your older and a woman traveling solo. So many of my friends would love to do what I do, but just have no idea what it is really like on the road.
I’m searching for a new camera with a long lens for shooting pics of wildlife on my travels, the A7iii looks interesting and a video camera for possibly starting a travel blog…lots to learn. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. And of course, I will buy them through your contact page.
Bonnie
Curious Minion
I don’t know if this will help, but in this post about the gear they do talk about advantages & disadvantages for each gadget: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/photo-video-gear Best of luck on your adventures!
Curious Minion
Spiceland
What are some the restrictions or rules for your drone ? I would like to see something about that. Thanks and fare winds
Curious Minion
They get asked this from time to time & the answer is that it varies from country to country. They are always very careful to check regs in each country and get permits to fly when needed.
Curious Minion
Andria Kildare
Wow! I am totally amazed at the fabulous selection you have! Living in Norway, we can only dream of this…all shops have very limited choice, and all stock exactly the same things…. If you can go to Sweden you can add to the selection (right now covid so no travel) Coming from Holland and now living in Norway, I can sometimes truly cry me a river in more ways than one… Holland is absolutely 100% for food and goodies..and chocolates and icecream and and and..I think you understand. And Tonga even has the climate… Thank you so much..this was very welcome and very informative! Stay and travel safely. AKxxx
Smitty
Guys you should get a colapsable wagon for going to town or getting gas tanks filled. Just pull it behind you. Lovethe channel
Ingrid
Love watching your videos. Safe sailing kids!
Mary Nelson
No video!