The Last Caretaker: Beginner Tips & How to Unlock the Jet Ski

There’s something quietly haunting about The Last Caretaker. Maybe it’s the endless horizon of flooded Earth. Maybe it’s the loneliness of being a machine tasked with preserving humanity’s last breath. Or maybe it’s the way the ocean constantly reminds you: you are not in control here.

After dozens of hours tinkering with power grids, drifting between Points of Interest, and barely escaping with 1% battery left, here’s my personal, battle-tested beginner survival guide — written the way I’d share it on a late-night Reddit thread.

1. Your Battery Isn’t Just Energy — It’s Your Pulse

The biggest early mistake? Treating your internal battery like stamina.

It’s not.

In The Last Caretaker, your battery is directly tied to your survival. When it drains, your health starts ticking down. No dramatic warning. No mercy.

What I wish I knew sooner:

• Always carry at least 50m of electric cable
• Never explore a POI without a power plan
• Build renewable energy before upgrading weapons

The Tether Strategy (Game-Changer)

Run a cable from your ship to yourself when exploring. It creates a lifeline — a literal energy leash. You can loot, dismantle, and explore without constantly sprinting back to recharge.

Once you start tethering properly, the game shifts from stressful to strategic.

2. Early Skill Tree: Infrastructure > Firepower

It’s tempting to unlock combat perks first. Don’t.

This isn’t an action game — it’s a survival engineering simulator disguised as one.

Prioritize:

1. Electric Cable – Non-negotiable.
2. Wind Turbine (“Whisper”) – Wind works day and night.
3. Solar (“Lumilite”) – Good early, but unreliable alone.

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Here’s a quick breakdown:

Power stability = freedom.

3. Dismantle Everything. Seriously.

One of the most satisfying mechanics in The Last Caretaker? 100% material refund when dismantling.

That means: no wasted builds, no permanent mistakes, full base relocation potential.

If you’re carrying junk back to your ship manually, you’re playing inefficiently.

Portable Recycler Trick

Instead of hauling scrap, bring materials to build a Recycler, drop it on-site, process everything, dismantle the Recycler, and leave lighter and richer.

It feels almost exploit-y — but it’s clearly intentional.

4. Your Boat Is Home — Treat It Like One

The ocean physics are gorgeous… and annoying.

Unmoored boats rock constantly. Building becomes frustrating.

Two things that saved my sanity:

• Use mooring cables at docks whenever possible
• Close all doors in Sanctuary zones to stop rocking

Once stabilized, base-building becomes peaceful instead of chaotic.

5. Inventory = Hidden Difficulty Setting

Overencumbered? Congratulations — you’re now a turtle.

Early survival improves dramatically once you craft a Durapack, stop hoarding raw junk, and organize storage visually.

My Color Coding Setup

It sounds minor, but during emergencies, seconds matter.

6. Combat Is About Control, Not Aggression

Fighting in The Last Caretaker feels heavy and deliberate.

A few lessons learned the hard way: hold to charge electric rifles (clicking does nothing), backpedal while melee attacking basic enemies, and use the high-tier “Eclipse” flashlight to instantly delete leeches.

Honestly? Avoiding fights is usually smarter. The ocean rewards patience.

7. The Survival Mistakes That Hurt Most

Let me save you some pain.

• Don’t ignore Pressure resistance upgrades
• Don’t build structures on ladders because climbing glitches out
• Don’t trust autosave — manually quicksave often

It’s Early Access. Glitches happen. Protect your progress.

8. Advanced Tricks That Feel Like Secrets

Once you’re comfortable, try shark surfing using metal pods for faster travel, scrap glowing sharks and large robots for premium components, and farm renewable enemies instead of relying only on static loot.

At this point, you stop surviving… and start thriving.

CS-17 Courier Skimmer Guide: Why the Jet Ski in The Last Caretaker Is a Total Game-Changer

The Last Caretaker finally gave us what many of us were secretly craving: a fast, reckless, slightly chaotic way to explore the ocean without dragging our floating fortress through every reef. With the Ocean: The Final Frontier update from Channel37, the CS-17 Courier Skimmer — yes, the Jet Ski — entered the game… and I haven’t explored the same way since.

If you’re wondering how to get the Jet Ski in The Last Caretaker, where to find it, and whether it’s actually worth the hassle — here’s the full breakdown from someone who absolutely risked losing it to the abyss more than once.

How to Unlock the Jet Ski in The Last Caretaker

The Jet Ski isn’t just lying around waiting to be claimed. You’ll need to trigger a specific questline called “The Isolation.”

Step 1: Sail East from Lazarus

Open your ship’s bridge map and look far to the east. You’re searching for an “Unknown” marker.

• Coordinates: ~112, -20
• Direction: East, slightly north of Lazarus
• Tip: Stay alert — it’s easy to overshoot the target

When you enter the correct zone, the quest “The Isolation” automatically appears in your log.

Step 2: Find the Rocky Islands (But Not Those Rocky Islands)

This part can be tricky. You’re aiming for a specific smaller island node, not the massive stone pillar cluster further ahead.

If you see towering rock spires everywhere? You went too far. Turn back.

The correct location is just before the larger formation — a smaller, distinct island that triggers the quest progression properly.

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Step 3: Complete “The Isolation”

Expect resistance.

You’ll run into rogue machines (yes, the annoying buggy ones). Clear the area, explore the facility, and eventually you’ll uncover:

• The CS-17 Courier Skimmer blueprint
• The initial vehicle frame

And just like that — you’re one step closer to becoming the ocean’s most reckless scout.

Jet Ski Crafting & Fuel Requirements

The CS-17 isn’t free to operate. It’s more like a high-maintenance speed demon.

You’ll need:

• Cylinder
• Petrol

No fuel? No ride.

Mooring Is NOT Optional

Let me say this clearly: Tie. It. Down.

The Jet Ski has a mooring line for a reason. If you don’t attach it to a dock or the rear of your main vessel, it will drift away.

The physics engine does not care about your feelings.

Is the Jet Ski Worth It?

Short answer? Yes. Long answer? It depends how you use it.

Here’s my honest take after multiple scouting runs:

The CS-17 isn’t a replacement for your main ship. It’s a precision tool — a rapid scout vehicle for tight, risky exploration zones.

Towing Tips (Learn From My Mistakes)

If you plan to tow the Jet Ski behind your main vessel:

• Keep speed below 35 kph
• Drop to ~25 kph in storms
• Avoid sharp turns at high speed
• Watch wave patterns before accelerating

Otherwise, you risk losing speed (34 → 30 kph drop), boat veering sideways, or the Jet Ski flipping or landing on your deck. Yes, that happens.

Why I Actually Love It

There’s something incredibly satisfying about anchoring your massive base-ship in a safe zone and blasting across the sea on a tiny high-speed skimmer. It makes the world feel bigger, more dangerous, and more alive.

Sure, it’s got Early Access quirks. It’s floaty. It’s chaotic in storms. But that unpredictability kind of fits the vibe of The Last Caretaker.

For tight biomes like Rocky Islands and The Maze, the Jet Ski isn’t just helpful — it’s almost essential.

Final Thoughts: This Is a Marathon

The Last Caretaker isn’t about rushing progression. It’s about building systems that sustain you. Once your power grid is stable and your recycling loop is efficient, the game transforms from struggle to exploration.

And that’s when the flooded world stops feeling hostile — and starts feeling mysterious.

If you’re just starting out, focus on power, respect the ocean, and don’t panic when your battery hits 5%.

We’ve all been there.

If you’re serious about exploration in The Last Caretaker, unlocking the CS-17 Courier Skimmer should be a priority. It transforms scouting, speeds up resource runs, and adds a whole new layer of tactical movement.

Just remember: Fuel it. Moor it. Respect the waves.

Now go punch in 112, -20 and start “The Isolation.” You won’t regret it.