Fuel is cheaper in Batam. Everything else? Potentially life-changing.
If you’ve ever boated around Singapore and thought, “Ahh, quick run to Batam, back before dark” — congratulations. You’re exactly the kind of person this episode is for.
In Episode 2 of The Legendary True Tales of Captain Davo, the boys head across to Batam for what was supposed to be the classic local boatie special: cheap fuel, seafood, a bit of nonsense, and home in time for dinner.
Instead?
Ten suspiciously affordable beers. Dockside logistics that make absolutely no sense. A marina that feels one misunderstanding away from international incident. And a return trip through waters where every local skipper has at least one story that starts with:
“Bro… you won’t believe what happened near Batam.”
As every Singapore boater knows, there are only two kinds of trips to Batam:
The smooth one you brag about.
The one that becomes a story forever.
This one becomes a podcast episode.
With the refinery glow lighting up the horizon like the gates of hell, container ships appearing out of nowhere, fishing boats operating under the firm belief that navigation lights are optional, and enough VHF confusion to age a man ten years, the Noordic 26 heads home through waters where things can go from shiok to sketchy very, very quickly.
Naturally, this is also the exact moment Cap’n Davo decides a tactical nap below deck is appropriate.
Leaving young mate Finnigan at the helm.
At night.
Near Batam.
What could possibly go wrong?
Then comes the call.
A mysterious grey boat. No lights. No AIS. No explanation. Just a very direct message over the radio that sounds suspiciously like the beginning of a regional boating cautionary tale.
Cue panic from one side of the boat.
Complete indifference from the captain.
And the sort of decision-making that every local skipper will either deeply relate to… or immediately judge while secretly knowing they’d probably do the same.
If you’ve ever:
⚓ Said “weather looks okay lah” when it absolutely wasn’t
⚓ Pretended you totally knew where you were in the Singapore Strait
⚓ Had your crew become suddenly useless the moment things got serious
⚓ Been personally victimised by Indonesian bureaucracy, fuel docks, or mystery fees
⚓ Or told your spouse “just a quick boat trip” before disappearing for 14 hours…
This episode will feel painfully familiar.
Episode 2: The Batam Bandits is pure regional boating chaos — the kind only Singapore, Batam, and the Strait can deliver.
🎙️ The Legendary True Tales of Captain Davo — ridiculous but strangely relatable boating stories from the waters we all pretend are normal.
Warning: You may never look at a “quick Batam run” the same way again.