Although the prices go up and down, there is at least one of the four cargoes that is cheaper at one of the 5 islands.
Dragon Cove (11 o'clock, upper left) -- buy Silk
Bouffant Bay (12 o'clock, upper center) -- buy Medicine
Parrot Port (3 o'clock, upper right) -- nothing cheap
Golden Harbor (5 o'clock, lower right) -- buy Grain
Pirate Outpost (7 o'clock, lower left) -- buy Spice
Generally, your best profit on grain is at Pirate Outpost, your best profit on spice is at Dragon Cove, your best profit on medicine is at Parrot Port, and your best profit on silk is at Bouffant Bay. When you have a lot of cash, you can borrow more at the bank in Golden Harbor.
Sail the circular clockwise route, allowing you to double the value of your cargoes :
you need to buy all of the stuff where its cheapest and sell i at the dearest islands then you will get money and be able to buy the biggest boat - eventually!
You buy the ships on Dragon Cove Island with the Chinese people.
you need to get money and buy a boat then you can go to the other islands
TO do that, you must trade to other islands like the five islands. To trade them, you must go clockwise, island to island then see this chart which says the island, thing that suppose to be sell and to be buy. Do this orderly and don't forget the Loan officer. Ask money to her and she will give you but you need to pay her that money in 20 days.
You should buy the NAVIGATOR (12,000 doubloons) in Parrot Port. She increases the speed of your vessel.
Any order you want! But You Have To Buy Every Single One, To Beat Captain CRAWFISH!
You can trade your ship in when you buy a larger one.
you sell or you can buy grain, spice, medicine or silk
Start off in one island, and buy the cheapest thing there the most you can. Next, go to the other island clockwise and sell the most expensive item which should be what you have of most of. Then start the process again.
As you salvage, trade, or borrow on the five islands, you will eventually have enough doubloons to buy a larger ship (the Jimmy Rigger) for 3000 doubloons. Ships are bought at the Ship Shape shipbuilders on Dracon Cove island.
Buy the chicken feed from the general store, and feed the man's chickens outside.
Simple. There are trading posts at each island all you have to do is sell and buy things from the post.