A man surfing on a pink surfboard inside a large ocean wave with a distant shoreline and trees in the background.
Aerial view of a tropical beach with lush green palm trees along the shoreline, ocean waves, and a boat in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.
Surfer riding inside the barrel of a large blue ocean wave.
A young boy standing on the edge of a boat named Pelagic during sunset, smiling and waving, with water and a distant shoreline in the background.
A person surfing on a large blue wave in the ocean, with a boat and a tree-lined shoreline in the background on a cloudy day.
A person surfing on a wave near a tropical island with palm trees.

Our Story

Launched in 2002, the Pelagic was the first custom-built surf charter boat - designed from the ground up for one purpose: delivering the ultimate surf adventure.

In 2003, the Pelagic played a starring role in Jack McCoy’s iconic film Blue Horizon, hosting legends Andy Irons, Dave Rastovich, Joel Parkinson, Luke Egan, and Shane Dorian. Over the years, it has remained the vessel of choice for pros and surf industry heavyweights - a true part of surfing history.

Since becoming a commercial charter, the Pelagic has set the benchmark for surf travel. With 20+ trips a year for over 13 seasons across the Mentawai Islands and beyond, we’ve built a loyal repeat guest base from around the globe. We’ve earned our reputation as the best by combining local knowledge, speed, range, and flexible itineraries to put surfers into perfect, uncrowded waves.

Our mission is simple: whether you’re an intermediate or a world champion, we aim to give every guest the chance to score the best waves of their life - aboard a vessel that’s fast, safe, reliable, and supremely comfortable.

A boat named Pelagic floating on water during sunset with a partly cloudy sky.

The MV PELAGIC

Built in Western Australia by Fine Entry Marine, the 20-metre Pelagic was designed to meet Australian survey codes for safety and performance. Powered by twin 680-horsepower Yanmar turbo diesels, she reaches speeds of up to 20 knots with a range of more than 900 nautical miles - a combination that opens up unparalleled opportunities. Her twin-keeled aluminium mono-hull, proven in the extreme waters off Western Australia, ensures unrivalled seaworthiness.

Onboard, the Pelagic balances performance with comfort. Air-conditioned cabins and living areas, shaded decks, and a spacious lounge and dining area provide plenty of room to relax. In the lounge, guests can stretch out in cool comfort with a flat-screen TV and surround-sound system - perfect after a long session in the sun. Out on the back deck, the dining area features a second TV, ideal for catching the big game with a cold Bintang in hand as the sun sets over the islands.

The aft deck is an open space with a compartment for the jet ski and a ramp for carrying the tender while on the move. When the tender is off, stairs lead down to the swim step, making it easy to get in and out of the water.

Want the full breakdown?

Check the specs below:

  • Vessel Overview

    • Length: 20m (65ft) aluminium mono-hull

    • Builder: Fine Entry Marine, Western Australia

    • Launched: 2002

    • Compliance: Australian USL survey codes

    Support Craft

    • Yamaha EX Sport Jet Ski

    • 18ft tender with 80hp Yamaha outboard

    Safety

    • 2 × deployable inflatable liferafts

    • Accusat EPIRB

    • Lifejackets for all guests & crew

    Performance & Range

    • Twin Yanmar 680hp turbo diesels

    • Top speed: 20 knots

    • Range: 900+ nautical miles

    • Fuel capacity: 10,000L

    Power & Systems

    • 2 × 35 KVA Yanmar generators

    • AC power: 240/415V throughout vessel (Australian standard sockets)

    • Citor reverse osmosis freshwater system + 900L storage tank

    • Fully ducted Marine Air Systems air conditioning

    Navigation & Electronics

    • Garmin & SI-TEX chart plotters

    • Furuno depth sounder & radar

    • Simrad autopilot

    • Icom SSB & VHF radios

    • Furuno AIS transponder & receiver

    • 4 cabins (sleeps 8 guests, mix of queens/twins)

    • 2 freshwater bathrooms

    • Bose surround sound + flat-screen TVs (saloon & back deck)

    • Full-service galley & cool room

    • Outdoor dining with all weather screens

    • Massage gun, foam rollers & exercise bands

    • 6 × egg beater setups for use onboard, the tender, or the Jet Ski - ideal for trolling or flicking poppers into the surf

    • 2 × Shimano 30W overhead combos for trolling behind Pelagic while cruising

    • Extensive range of tackle: lures, skirts, jigging & bottom-bouncing gear

    • Spear gun, masks, snorkels, fins & dive belts for reef exploration and diving

A person surfing on a large, curling ocean wave.

The Waves

  • A dreamy chain of around 70 tropical gems off Sumatra’s west coast - packs more perfect surf per square mile than anywhere else on Earth. With over 50 world-class breaks to choose from, names like HT’s, Macaronis, Rifles, Kandui and Greenbush stand out among the best waves in the world.

    Roughly 80 miles offshore, this island chain sits directly in the path of endless Indian Ocean swells, born in the Roaring 40s. The result? Consistent, celebrated surf that has cemented the Mentawais as a true surfer’s paradise.

    The magic lies in the variety: playful rights, dreamy lefts, long open faces, reeling points, and deep, barreling slabs. From fun three-foot peelers to heavy ten-foot tubes, the Mentawais serve up the full spectrum - earning their place as one of the most iconic surf destinations in the world.

  • Tucked between Nias to the north and the Mentawais to the south, the Telo Islands offer a blend of natural beauty and a wide variety of fun, high-quality waves. With their more user-friendly reefs, the Telos have become a genuine alternative to their busier neighbours.

    While the waves can still produce world-class barrels, they’re generally a little less intense than the Mentawais — more playful and rippable than life-or-death.

    That balance makes the Telos especially appealing for intermediate surfers. Most breaks sit in the shoulder- to head-high range, delivering long, fun sessions with fewer crowds. And when the swell really lines up, this archipelago can still unleash heavy, hollow waves worthy of any surf film.

  • Set off Sumatra’s remote northwest coast, the Banyaks feel like stepping back in time, serving up a user-friendly dose of classic Indonesian perfection. The Southern Hemisphere winter delivers the best southwest swells, lighting up premier waves like Treasure Island and the aptly named Bay of Plenty. With a slower pace and a more relaxed atmosphere than the better-known chains, the Banyaks are a favourite for surfers looking to slip away from the bustle.

    Made up of dozens of small islands, this chain is best explored by boat — the only way to unlock its remote breaks and untouched charm.

  • While most surfers don’t charter a boat specifically to visit Nias and the Hinakos, they can make for a fun stop when exploring between the Telos and the Banyaks — if the conditions line up.

    After the massive 2005 earthquake lifted reefs in the area, some breaks improved, new waves appeared, and others disappeared entirely — adding even more intrigue to the region.

    While less travelled than the Mentawais or Telos, this zone adds an adventurous twist to a West Sumatran surf odyssey.

Tropical beach with white sand, clear blue water, lush green palm trees, and a partly cloudy sky, with several people enjoying the water and beach.

Seasons

When to go? From early-season pulses to peak-season perfection, the island chains off West Sumatra deliver waves in every season.

  • (March – May)


    As the southern hemisphere storm machine switches on, fresh south and southwest swells begin to pulse through the islands. While not the busiest season, it often delivers excellent surf with fewer boats in the water - perfect for those chasing uncrowded perfection.

  • (June - August)


    This is peak season - go time across the archipelagos. Powerful low-pressure systems in the southern Indian Ocean send consistent long-period groundswells toward Indonesia, lighting up the reefs off West Sumatra. From June through September, it’s hard to miss scoring, which is why this stretch of coast is considered one of the best surf zones in the world.

  • (September – November)


    The surf still packs a punch in spring. September and October remain consistent months, with plenty of good swell and slightly lighter crowds. As December nears, swells ease off - along with the number of surfers - making this a great window for more relaxed, laid-back sessions.

  • (December – February)


    This is downtime. Most charter boats head in for rest and repairs. While good waves are still possible, less consistent swells make it a quieter period — a time when the islands truly slow down.