Sale and trade in the South Pacific.

[amphibious1]

Aloha all
We are leaving panama very soon for the more remote islands of the South Pacific. We want to stay out for 2 years or so. We want to have the cultural experience of trading. We want to bring things to people that have a hard time getting. Plus help to extend our time in the South Pacific. We have talked with another boat that did some sales and trades years ago.
Has anyone done it recently?
what where your most wanted things?
witch islands where they wanted?


We have already got
Fishing hooks, lines and some lurers.
Some clothes
Perfume
Colms
Colors for kids and some toys.


We don't want to do alcohol or smokes.


Thanks for your input



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[Sectorsteve]

Gidday. I dunno if youve read steve and linda dashews " cruising encyclopeadia" but in the many years they spent around the world and in particular the south pacific they mention some real gems in regards to trading.
One thing they did mention is that some islands may be volcanic with no fruit, thus live on fish and others are abundant with fruit so the trades between fruit and fish are a good one and theyre all in the islands.

[robert sailor]

The small islands are very different in their needs. In the outer islands in the Marshall Islands flash lite batteries were really popular.

[JPA Cate]

For kids, paper, pens, colored pencils.

Everyone loves National Geographic magazines.

small perfumed soaps for the ladies, costume jewelry, clothing
light fishing line and small hooks for gents, clothing (T-shirts and shorts, 2nd hand is OK)

In the Tuamotus, cooking oil, sugar, even flour were appreciated, as the copra boats do not come regularly. There, on the atolls, there is a sub surface water lens of fresh water, that's their drinking water, they have cisterns to catch rainfall. Sometimes the water gets very brackish. If you have a water maker, they will appreciate the gift of sweet water (they will find bottles or clean tins to fill.)

Ann

Ann

[Dave852]

Originally Posted by amphibious1

Aloha all
We are leaving panama very soon for the more remote islands of the South Pacific. We want to stay out for 2 years or so. We want to have the cultural experience of trading. We want to bring things to people that have a hard time getting. Plus help to extend our time in the South Pacific. We have talked with another boat that did some sales and trades years ago.
Has anyone done it recently?
what where your most wanted things?
witch islands where they wanted?


We have already got
Fishing hooks, lines and some lurers.
Some clothes
Perfume
Colms
Colors for kids and some toys.


We don't want to do alcohol or smokes.


Thanks for your input



Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

Then I assume you don't want to do shotgun shells either. You will find those are the top three requests.
Still lots left you can trade, problem is when the boats find out what's needed any given year the next year they get flooded with the item and then they no longer need that. For example one year they had some nice new aluminum boats but no small fenders so any boat that had spare fenders made some super trades. Best would be to try and ask the boats ahead of you what this years need is.

[Boatguy30]

Nail polish, and cash

[Dave852]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

Nail polish, and cash

My first instinct was to say "so much for your trade experience " but the reality is that trade still exists in the remote areas because cash only lets you order something that may take months to arrive. But trade will let you have that something right now.

[Diesel Bill]

Children are every where so any thing for kids. As Ann said, pens, pencils, kids books and blank notebooks for school and kids cloths even from a thrift shop if in good condition. Men love ball caps and most women like lipsticks and things to dress themselves up a little.
Small items that don't take up a lot of storage. I once acquired over 1,000 ballpoint pens for gift giving in the islands. Small gifts go a long way to make friends in distant places.

[coffsguy]

Last time we were in the South Pacific we took a dozen or so pairs of various strength reading glasses ... optometrists usually have a good supply of discarded glasses or they can be purchased very cheaply at the $1 store. Also found the schools in Tonga welcomed chalk, pencils, rulers etc. as well as childrens story books (in English).

[Sectorsteve]

im going through my stuff at home before packing up and wondering what people who have been think of items like - recorders (those flute type things kids play at school)
speaker docks with rechargeable batteries. CD walkman?
i have alot of items like this i dont want that i would trade for bananas etc!

[Boatguy30]

Women and girls like the nail polish. May give you some artwork or shells in return. In those "truly remote" areas gifts are expected from yachts. Fixing an outboard would be more valuable to the village than anything you'd bring to trade.

[Boatguy30]

PS, I got the "cash" suggestion in 2003 from an experienced yacht broker and captain that had cruiser the south Pacific in the early 70s on a Pearson 30. He did say at that time .22 shells were sought after.

[NoahTreat]

Soccer balls
Wood working tools.

[amphibious1]

Wow thanks for all the great input.
We have already got several things on the list but there are some here that are great ideas. The nail polish and lipstick is a great one. We got some glasses but we will get more now. Thank you for everyone's input.


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[Joe Saylor]

In the Marquesas:
.22 shells and 12 ga birdshot shells.
woodcarving tools, chisels small hand tools.
Boxes of big nails
Leather working tools, leather pieces for them to things out of.
Sewing needles, thread. Fish hooks ,lures, lines, sinkers,
Cheap perfume, mirrors, body lotion
Tooth brushes and tooth paste for the kids
Line, all sizes and types.
Cheap masks and snorkel, some fins too.

From the Marquesas to the Tuamotus bring a big bag of limes, you'll get the tastiest poisson cru you'll ever have and make some really nice friends in the islands. Also a big bag of pompulmousse and any other fresh fruit you can bring.