The Art Of Bartering - What To Exchange?

[Teknav]

While sailing the Grenadines, a few local skiffs passed by our chartered boat and offered us a few things to sell/barter. A whole banana "stack" was exchanged for a 6-pack of Heineken beer; off St. Lucia. In another occasion, two freshly caught and cleaned groupers and a red snapper (about 7-8 lbs total), were purchased for $15 USD. Home grown 2 cabbages, 4 green peppers and 2 bib lettuce were bartered for sugar, flour and oil; off Canouan. Have you had similar experiences? What would you offer in exchange?

Mauritz

[boatman61]

100 miles W of the Galapagos we came across half a dozen open longboats who roared over when they saw the boat offering swordfish for beer and smokes... I don't eat fish but threw across some beer and a couple of packs anyway... happy fishermen...

[VirtualVagabond]

Originally Posted by boatman61

100 miles W of the Galapagos we came across half a dozen open longboats who roared over when they saw the boat offering swordfish for beer and smokes... I don't eat fish but threw across some beer and a couple of packs anyway... happy fishermen...

Don't like fish?
or are you a vego???

[FSMike]

Used to be in the Dry Tortugas the currency with shrimp boats was Budweiser and/or Marlboros. Would get you a lot of fresh caught gulf shrimp.

[svmariane]

So it was our first time along Mexico's coast. We'd anchored in Bahia Santa Maria (outside of Puerto San Carlos, BCS) and a panga came by offering fresh-caught lobster. Two "D" cell batteries per lobster. Big ones, so only got two. (Somehow, the half-pack of cigs in my shirt pocket also jumped ship. )

My wife had never eaten lobster before, nor had she any idea about their cooking. (So uncivilized, these German women ) No probs, I said: A few cold Dos Equis, a loaf of warm bread with some melted butter on the side, then we drop those big boys in boiling water and when they turn pink/red we eat. Now she loves lobster!

Then a few years later we were again cruising along Mexico's west coast and my wife had planned ahead with an ample supply of "D" cell bats in anticipation of bartering for lobsters!

But.... Everybody now really wanted $ or "Double A" type bats.

Darn advances in technology......

[bobconnie]

Things have changed a lot in the last 30 yrs LOL used to be a couple of old Playboys would load ya up with fish and lobster !! Or a couple of printed tee shirts could get ya a weeks worth of shore grown veggies ! LOL Ahh things change, and sometimes not for the better !!