The addition of Southern Cross to our fleet back in 2002 was a bit unexpected and unplanned. Scuzz’s initial feeling at the time was that our two other vessels at the time would be enough to meet consumer demand and allow for our ongoing exploration to the regions in Northern Sumatra. However, Om and his son Yandi, with the help of a few friends, had already begun construction on a new hull utilizing the knowledge they had gained from the previous boats and our many trips in the past. After seeing the hull was already built and the family was putting all their effort into it, Scuzz was inspired and decided to join in. From the hull, the Southern Cross was built from the ground up with the specs and style we wanted for surf travel. The designed has proved extremely effective, as Southern Cross has logged in more nautical miles than almost any boat in these islands over the past several years, particularly to Northern Sumatran, and with Scuzz at the helm it's truly become an icon in these waters.

The Southern Cross is similar in layout and appearance to our other boats, though it's definitely gone through more paint jobs over the years than any of our other boats. At 78 feet, it's quite wide and roomy, which allows for lot of extra elbowroom when cruising about the decks, salon, sleeping quarters, and eating areas.

At the lowest level of the boat, you’ll find our spacious sleeping area that houses eight comfortable bunks for our guests. There are large individual storage areas next to each bunk, which are great for stowing your clothes, books, camera equipment and some of your more delicate items. Each bunk is curtained for privacy, with it's own nightlight so you can keep reading even if everyone else is crashed out. In addition to the individual storage compartments, there are additional large storage units at both the front and rear of the sleeping quarters, which are good for storing larger and more durable items like your surf gear. The cabin also contains our TV, VCR, and DVD. It’s a great place to crank up the air conditioning after a long day of surfing and pop on a video, or hook the camcorder up to the TV and watch the day’s footage.

In addition to the eight bunks downstairs, there are two individual private cabins upstairs. One of these cabins belongs to Scuzz, and he recently knocked down one of the walls to make his room a special “deluxe cabin”. Both rooms are great for a little extra privacy, and Scuzz has been known to offer up his larger cabin as a love nest for special couples wanting to stay together.

The Southern Cross boasts a huge shaded front deck which is a great place to relax and have a bite to eat, watch your friends surf, or pick up the video camera to capture some footage. Every day we bring out the big padded mats, so it’s also a great place to practice some stretching or take a nap. In addition to the downstairs shaded area, we have another large shaded area on the top level that doubles as one of our two main dining areas. We have a huge table with benches and chairs that seats up to ten quite comfortably. There are two additional padded benches if you want to lay down or need some extra room expand after eating all the fresh fish you catch. This entire area is shaded, and it’s also a great place to eat at night when a cool breeze is blowing, and view on of Aki's famous slideshows of the day's best surfing and scenic shots.

Our other dining area is in the main deck in the salon. Couches surround another large serving table, which is also the site where you hope you don’t roll ‘em off the table in the infamous Dice Game. Every morning, often before you awaken, the crew lays out several trays of fruits, eggs, breads, cereal, granola, milk, etc. – good energy producing food to give you fuel for your first surf. Eri your chef has his own self-contained galley, which enables him to weave his magic for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Southern Cross has truly become THE pioneering boat for Northern Sumatra missions, but it still does plenty of trips to the good old Ments, and Scuzz has shown a penchant for exploring its southern regions. SC's 660 horsepower push it along at a good clip, which has enabled this boat to arguably do more miles than any other boat in these islands. Southern Cross has discovered many waves and is well known by villages all over the island chain. With our ongoing relief effort, her name only strengthens. As a result, Southern Cross is often booked almost a year in advance. This shows the good name she has, so it’s recommended that you start planning a trip early if you wish to come aboard. We constantly maintain The Cross to keep her a top notch vessel, and we continue to add new amenities and technology to make the experience as pleasurable as possible for our guests.

Southern Cross - Boat Specs

Length (base of hull): 23m
Beam: 5.2 meters
Draft: 1.9 meters
Speed: 9-12 knots
Minimum group: 6
Max group: 9
AC: 2 units national, 1.5pk cabin
Safety: life jackets, flares, epirb, sat phone, TIKI boat standing by, fire extinguisher, first aid kit
Engine: Twin Mitsubishi 6D22 330HP
Engine genset: 2 * ps 100hp, ts 20pk
Generator: 2 * 30 kva 230v – 240v 50 hz ac
GPS: Furuno
Radio: Icom 710 ssb
Fuel capacity: 10000 lt
Water capacity: 6000 lt
Sounder: dual frequency
Toys: TV, DVD, VCR, CD player, iBook, stereo, Bose speakers, iPod
Construction: local hardwood
Crew: captain, mechanic, cook, 2 general crew mates, guide
Tender: aluminum 4m – 2.5m Yamaha 25hp
Snorkeling gear: basic/limited
Fishing gear: 2 rod reels, handlines, gaff, belt
Features: 2 large shaded outdoor areas, 2 hammocks, indoor fresh water, shower and bathroom
Flag: Indonesian

WHAT'S ONBOARD