Adult toys onboard

[rtw]

Hello Forum,

this might sound like a strange (and very private) question, but nevertheless i hope to get some decent information.

We're a young couple with an old but refitted and seaworthy cruising boat in the 40ft range. In the last years, we've sailed a couple thousand miles in Europe, mainly baltic sea and north sea.

We're planning to leave for a three year cruise round the world (the standard trade-winds route, europe to cape verdes to the carribean, panama canal, south pacific, australia, south africa) in some months, and while there is plenty of information online about nearly anything related to circumnavigating, there's one thing missing for us. We do have a very "active" relationship and we did and do try out a lot of stuff and do own a decent amount of toys (mostly in the bdsm range) . Actually, this seems to work the same way as with tools for boat repairs (we do own a lot of these too ).

Now, i'm thinking about how much of this stuff we should or should not take onboard for our cruising plans. My questions are:

-is it common for customs to search the boat? We'd probably have a bag with toys under the forward berth.

-if this happens, how big is the possibility for problems? Personally i wouldn't like the idea of a customs guy looking through our stuff, but if that's the price to pay, i'm okay with it as long as nothing else than some evil eyes happen. Are there any experiences with this or local laws that we should know of?

Again, this might sound like a strange question, but i don't know another place to ask this. For us it is an important part of our lifestyle and we hope to keep it going while sailing.

[c3po]

Do.....any of these toys pass as sailing gear?

[MC2019]

Leave it all out in the open, like up on shelves and stuff

Originally Posted by rtw

Hello Forum,

this might sound like a strange (and very private) question, but nevertheless i hope to get some decent information.

We're a young couple with an old but refitted and seaworthy cruising boat in the 40ft range. In the last years, we've sailed a couple thousand miles in Europe, mainly baltic sea and north sea.

We're planning to leave for a three year cruise round the world (the standard trade-winds route, europe to cape verdes to the carribean, panama canal, south pacific, australia, south africa) in some months, and while there is plenty of information online about nearly anything related to circumnavigating, there's one thing missing for us. We do have a very "active" relationship and we did and do try out a lot of stuff and do own a decent amount of toys (mostly in the bdsm range) . Actually, this seems to work the same way as with tools for boat repairs (we do own a lot of these too ).

Now, i'm thinking about how much of this stuff we should or should not take onboard for our cruising plans. My questions are:

-is it common for customs to search the boat? We'd probably have a bag with toys under the forward berth.

-if this happens, how big is the possibility for problems? Personally i wouldn't like the idea of a customs guy looking through our stuff, but if that's the price to pay, i'm okay with it as long as nothing else than some evil eyes happen. Are there any experiences with this or local laws that we should know of?

Again, this might sound like a strange question, but i don't know another place to ask this. For us it is an important part of our lifestyle and we hope to keep it going while sailing.

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by c3po

Do.....any of these toys pass as sailing gear?

Battery powered winch handle?


I've got to ask - does rtw stand for 'round the world lol?

[Sailmonkey]

I'm sure you won't be the first one to have a stash like this.


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[Tellie]

OK guilty! I clicked on this thread too.

Halden Marine Services | Marine Watermakers, Solar Panels, Wind Generators

[Lizzy Belle]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

I'm sure you won't be the first one to have a stash like this.

^ this.

If searched by customs, I'm sure they've seen much more interesting / shocking stuff then some toys. Doubt they'll even give you much of a look.

Also doubt there's toys that'll get you in legal trouble, but when in doubt: check before entering a country.
Just make sure there's no bound & gagged crewmembers stashed away somewhere when customs boards you and all should be fine

[zboss]

Its a - um - legit question.

So far no one had boarded out boat a complete inspection.

[MYTraveler]

You will probably gross them out and they will want to get off your boat ASAP.

[Jim Cate]

Several of the South Pacific nations that we have visited are very severely down on "pornography" of any sort... magazines (such mainstreamers as Playboy, for instance), movies, still photos, literature, etc. I dunno how such places would view your equipment. As always, it will depend to some degree on the individual inspector that you encounter, and then how you have interacted with him. I'm not even sure if this sort of issue is codified most places in the third world, so it will be even more an individual thing.

hard question to answer in a practical way!

Jim

[hellosailor]

Probably best to just leave it in a drawer in the master stateroom, somewhere near the underwear and socks and lingerie.


DO be very careful about what you are taking where, however. Even in the 70's, if you took Playboy or condoms into Turkey and some other middle-eastern countries, theyd be confiscated and if you were lucky, you might not be arrested. Countries that are known to have strict religious standards tend to take umbrage at sacrilegious infidels.


And that applies to more than sex toys, check out Noonsite.com. I think it is Barbados where anything that looks like military camo will get you arrested, simply for wearing it. Although, apparently they allow McBurger uniforms. Can't possibly understand why the burger chain is a lesser offense, but it is an odd world.

[Stumble]

I have never looked into this, but I do have some concerns....

Generally I think most toys would be fine. But a number of old commonwealth countries, still have very repressive laws on the books as regards sex. While most of these laws are generally ignored, depending on who does the inspection there is the possibility for a problem.

Without the research the following are just guesses.

1) make sure everything is out of the original packages. This way there is no question they are not for resale
2) anything that could in any way strike at homosexuality should be left behind. Some of the islands still have very strict laws about homosexuality, randomly enforced.
3) I would probably suggest containing everything to one drawer or area and keep it locked. If they decide to inspect it, then I would mention what is stored within and let them know ahead of time. Request and offer latex gloves for the inspection.

[MarkJ]

I have never heard of it being a problem. And after 7 years floating around I would have heard stories if there was any to be told.

As Jim said, some countries may be a problem, but I wouldn't worry about the Pacific.
The ones I would be a little concerned are the Arab countries: Oman and anything up the Red Sea before Egypt. I think Egypt would be fine and turkey too.
I don't think the Asian nations would be a problem including Indonesia which is Muslim.

I wouldn't hide them. If there's a bag of anything that Looks like its hidden then that may show a guilty mind and that may make them wonder what else you have.

As to how many times a boat is thoroughly searched, if you look like a normal couple you probably never get a serious search. But if the boat smells of drugs and you look like an anachist and stand with folded arms asking 'by what authority are you searching...' then you will probably get searched in every port.

Whenever I get authorities come on the boat I am very free to tell them they can search anywhere. I don't do drugs or anything illegal so I have nothing to hide (except for 3 inflatable crew).


Mark

[Hoofsmit]

Not sure about what is the opinions of customs around the world of items the you wish to have on board as " ships stores"
But my experience within the last year here in the Caribbean was that I have been boarded twice whilst on a charter vessel.
Once on the approaches to St Barths and again in isles de saints (Guadeloupe), they were very polite and professional but very thorough in their search, even emptying dirty laundry bags!
So I think -these items maybe best stored in a draw/ cupboard near your berth, so as not to suggest you wish to conceal them.



Sent from my iPad.......i apologise for the auto corrects !!!

[valhalla360]

I would suggest leaving anything that might be construed as a weapon behind (even something simple as a paddle. Likewise, handcuffs could be problematic (just flew yesterday and they were on the illegal items list by check in). On the positive side, carrying extra rope and practicing your knot tying skills shouldn't draw much attention.

Otherwise, it's probably more about the country. Most countries aren't going to care. For those that might care, I wouldn't leave them out on the dinnet but I wouldn't have a secret compartment either. If they are just in an unlocked drawer by the bed, you can claim ignorance and likely apologize your way out. If it's a secret compartment, they may decide you were intentionally trying to trick them.

Also quantity may play a role. 1 or 2 battery powered devices and they likely will assume they were for your own use. If you have 3 dozen variations, they may think you are running a business.