Stabilisers, tenders & toys
Comfort on a Komodo cruise comes from three hardware categories: propulsion and power, water capability, and motion management. Magika publishes a Mitsubishi 6D22 main engine, a 30 KVA generator plus emergency set, 5 tons of fresh water, GPS, snorkelling and diving equipment. What it does not have — and no traditional phinisi does — is active fin stabilisers.
The claim nobody should make
Several Komodo listings imply stabilised comfort on wooden phinisi hulls. It is worth being direct: fin stabilisers are a feature of steel and large composite motor yachts, not of traditionally built ironwood-and-balau phinisi. Anyone selling you stabilisers on a 26-metre wooden boat should be asked to point at them.
What actually reduces motion on a phinisi is less glamorous and more effective.
Beam
Magika’s 6.03 m beam on 26.74 m length is a wide, initially stable platform.
Anchorage selection
Overnights at sheltered bays such as Siaba are chosen for water state, not scenery.
Overnight passage-making
The 3–4 hour Kalong-to-Padar leg runs while guests sleep, so the roughest hour is the one you do not experience.
Speed
At 8 knots the boat works with the swell rather than slamming through it.
What is on board, and what it does for you
Straight from the published specification — including the two lines that say “not fitted”, because that is the honest part.
| System / equipment | Published specification | Real effect on your trip |
|---|---|---|
| Main engine | Mitsubishi 6D22 | Drives the 8-knot cruise that sets every leg time in the itinerary |
| Generator | Mitsubishi 4D 30 KVA | Runs air conditioning, lighting, water heater and charging overnight |
| Emergency generator | Rated 7,500 | Redundancy — a failed genset does not mean a hot, dark night |
| Fresh water | 5 tons | Daily showers for a full manifest across a multi-night charter |
| Water heater | Yes | Hot showers after a cold south-Komodo dive; genuinely not universal in this class |
| Navigation | GPS | Night passages and anchoring in the dark are routine, not improvised |
| Air conditioning | All nine cabins | Sleep quality, which is the single biggest driver of how a cruise feels |
| Snorkelling equipment | Included | Mask, snorkel and fins provided; bring your own mask if you are fussy about fit |
| Diving gear | On board; tanks and weights included on diving packages | Up to three dives daily; personal gear rental is a separate charge |
| Life jackets | For the manifest | Required for tender transfers and snorkelling with current |
| Sound system | Yes | Group dinners, celebrations, deck evenings |
| Water dispenser | Yes | Refills instead of plastic bottles — bring a reusable flask |
| Sundeck and lounge | Yes | Where most of the trip is actually spent between stops |
| Active fin stabilisers | Not fitted | Motion is managed by routing and anchorage choice instead |
| Motorised water toys (seabob, jet ski) | Not listed | Belongs to the USD 20,000+ per night motor-yacht tier |
How hardware maps to the route
Every leg leans on a different piece of the boat. This is what each stop actually needs.
| Itinerary leg | Approximate time at 8 knots | Hardware that matters most |
|---|---|---|
| Labuan Bajo → Kelor | ~1 hour | Tender for the beach landing |
| Kelor → Manjarite | ~0.5–1 hour | Snorkelling gear |
| Manjarite → Kalong | ~1 hour | Sundeck — the bat exodus is watched from deck at dusk |
| Kalong → Padar (overnight) | ~3–4 hours | Generator and AC; this is the leg you sleep through |
| Padar → Pink Beach | ~1–1.5 hours | Tender, water dispenser after the hike |
| Komodo → Manta Point | ~0.5–1 hour | Life vests; drift snorkelling needs them |
| Manta Point → Taka Makassar | ~20–30 minutes | Tender for the sandbar landing |
| Taka Makassar → Siaba | ~1–1.5 hours | Sheltered overnight anchorage |
| Siaba → Kanawa | ~1–1.5 hours | Snorkelling gear, water heater afterwards |
Leg times are operator norms rather than a published timetable; the Labuan Bajo to Kelor hour is the only figure with an explicit public source. Order changes with current and wind.
What you should bring yourself
Six items that consistently make the difference between a good week and a slightly frustrating one.
- Your own mask if you dive or snorkel seriously — fit matters more than any other item.
- A reusable water bottle for the dispenser.
- A dry bag for tender transfers; landings are wet at Padar and Pink Beach.
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a rash vest; the sundeck is the hottest place on the boat.
- Motion-sickness medication if you are susceptible, taken before departure rather than after.
- Personal dive computer if you have one; rental gear beyond tanks and weights is charged separately.
Best for…
Guests who care about sleep
AC in all nine cabins plus a redundant generator is the specification that matters most at 2 a.m.
Divers
Hot water after a cold southern dive is worth more than any toy on the deck.
Anyone prone to seasickness
Choose April–June or September–November, take a mid-ship cabin, and sleep through the long legs.
Group layouts are on groups and celebrations, and every remaining question sits at the Magika FAQ hub.
Frequently asked questions
Does Magika have stabilisers?
No, and neither do traditional wooden phinisi generally. Comfort comes from hull form, a 6.03 m beam, and overnighting in sheltered bays rather than from active fin stabilisers.
How does a phinisi keep guests comfortable without stabilisers?
Route design. Long legs such as Kalong to Padar are sailed overnight while guests sleep, and the boat anchors in protected water like Siaba rather than open straits.
What water equipment is included?
Snorkelling gear, life vests and diving equipment are listed on the specification. Tanks and weights are included on diving packages; personal dive gear rental is charged separately.
Is there a tender for island landings?
Yes. Landings at Padar, Komodo, Rinca and Pink Beach are made by small boat; there are no jetties at most stops.
Does Magika carry seabobs or jet skis?
Those are not on the published equipment list. Motorised toys of that type belong to the VVIP motor-yacht tier that charters at USD 20,000–27,000 per night.
What powers the air conditioning overnight?
A Mitsubishi 4D 30 KVA generator with a separate emergency set rated at 7,500.
Is there enough fresh water for daily showers?
The vessel carries 5 tons of fresh water and a water heater. At sensible usage that covers a full manifest for a multi-night charter.
What navigation and safety equipment is on board?
GPS navigation, life jackets for the manifest and an emergency generator are on the published specification. Ask the captain for a safety briefing at boarding.
Ask about the boat, not the brochure
Engine hours, generator schedule, tender size, what gear is on board — the reservations desk will answer any of it before you pay a deposit.
Whole-boat charter and shared cabins · Labuan Bajo departures · 2026 & 2027 dates open