Ok so this weekend we let our fingers do the walking. We pulled up a google search showing any marinas in the area. Since we live near one of the largest freshwater bodies in the world, this was not something that would yield zero results. But we wanted to fnd a place that might have boats we could see. Who might have thought you could just drop in and check them out. Well why not?
So our fingers walked up and down the google search boating marinas (with some motorcycle shops mixed in, Huh?) We saw Basa’s, we had visited them a couple of weeks back, when the entire area was under a blanket of tundra, and the air outside was -20. Today however, it was a balmy 40F, it was a day for no coats and brave soles in shorts. We found one in Dolton. Well that is a bit of a trek, but hey that is what cars are for. We put in a ring and got a receptionsist. I aksed after thier closing hours, as we had ascertained earlier, these boat shows can shut shop as early of noon on the weekends during this season. She rather unchearfuly informed me 4pm.
We struck out at noon, after the BF took a long look at the directions. It took 3 HWYs and a scary section of town to put us outside of a landfill, with little pipes to burn off the released gasses. Thankfully, it wasnt burning today. A small sign said, marina left. After passing it we backed up down the lone stretch of road and turned down a gravel drive toward a disappearing turn. Hmm.. Then as we turned the corner, the boats came into view. Large ones 50+, wrapped in plastic, all on blocks, hundreds all sizes just around the bend. Literally littered and almost stacked on top of each other. With barley walking space between them. And there were buildings, multiple ones. Like large warehouses of metal, and possibly more boats.We turned into the gated yard with boats everywhere, we followed what looked like a drive to a trailer, that must be the ‘office’.
Just outside of te office was a pond, where clearly boats were launched. It had large boat launching stuff.. near it. I noted, we should lock the car door.
We entered the trailer thgouth the front and was greeted by silence. The walls were decarated with lists of boat offerings. A small TV silently played CNN. After a bit an elderly lady appeared through the corridor. She said " Hi, you must have called earlier about our hours? I was like, "ya" She asked our names cheerfylly enough and told us that James had just stepped out for lunch and would be returning shortly. Would we mind waiting. She offered us coffee and water and encouraged us to browse th boat literature and the listings shown.
We sat in comfortable chairs staring at silent CNN talking jovially about more bail out drama. Its amazing what you can find out from watching TV without the sound. BF browsed the room like he was stalking prey. Looking at all the artifacts of prior kills. There was a huge key rack just behind an empty counter. The rack covered almost the entire back wall. Harsh lights shined and bounce off of all the random assortment of keys. In walked James, just as CNN cut to more congressmen mouthing whether or not they supported the upcoming bill.
James was a age-deceptive man, with black curly hair worn closely cropped. He was lean, well proportioned and was about 6ft tall. He wore comfortable clothes in the business casual fashion. He looked like he might be 22, but the silver flecks in his hair at his sideburns indicated he was at least 30. The ease at which he sported his wedding ring, indicated he had been married for quite some time. Ok, maybe he is 35. He gave us a bright smile and asked our names. Introduced himself and welcomed us. He wanted to know how we found them, why we were there and all the assortment of questions you might ask someone who drops in out of the blue. Like well nice to see you but what do you want type of questions.
Of course we go though our song and dance about how we don’t have a clue. We are all new to this, not sure what we want or how we want it or who we are.. blah blah blah. Knowing full well we have been researching for the past few weeks and months and have a least a small idea. But for some unwritten reason, both BF and I are unwilling to divulge the amount of research we have been doing on this topic to anyone but ourselves. So we feign complete ignorance, but confess to going to the boat show a couple of weeks back.
Cheerfully, James begins to rattle on about the boats we could see. We told him some of the ones we remember from the show, and he starts off in search of keys. Then the place become, all of a sudden a beehive of activity. It was like someone threw a switch.; and all the equipment comes on. All of a sudden people start coming in the door. First one set, then another, then another. Some leave, others come, Some leave. Others stop to chat. All the while James is searching out keys. BF and I stare at CNN and quizzically look at all the new comers.
One of the bunch manages to corner James in an office while he is still searching out the last key set and materials for us. They take up a discussion about birds. Apparently, the birds in the area have been dive bombing the boats. And there are hundreds of birds and all the outdoor boats are being bombarded. James assures the boat owner it is not just his boat, but a lot of owners (apparently birds cant discriminate from the air that they should only poop on 32 footers). James assures the new man that they are planning to get a wholesale cleaning going, but they don’t know what to do about the birds overall. The boat owner tells James he’s going to clean today. James hustles him out of the door as soon as he can, and grins at us with keys in his hands. In walks another customer, James lets this one know he will need to call him, as he doesn’t want to keep us waiting any longer (wise man 
. The new customer smiles, takes the hint, and asks if he has his cell. James who recognized the customer on sight assured him he had all his contact info and he would ring him directly after this. In fact, tome to think of it, James knew everyone by name as they came in the door. Later he commented about how he hadn’t seen a few of them since late last season. He must have a good face-name combo going on in his head. And I would just bet, that face-name combo thing is also tied to boat size, and whether or not they paid in cash, LOL.
Finally, we get in the truck and are headed to 1 of the 5 buildings on the premises. After a shuffle of keys and the retrieval of the ladder from the truck we are walking in semi darkness, ducking under bows, walking under sterns, shimming underneath boats on blocks, and walking through an area practically crammed with boats. I ask him how do they get the boats in here so close (with only a few feet to spare). Lost of hydraulics, he replys. Our first boat is in the rear of the building. A well placed ladder leads us to the swim platform. We wipe our wet shoes on a towel, duck under a host of plastic covering and enter the Sea Ray 44.
The cabin layout is one John and I like, full bed in one and den in another. James starts to tell us about the difference with sport boats and other and power boats. Something we had been getting a handle on recently. This was a sport, for local cruising, weekend stuff.. Not long term time. There would be some things missing like larger roomy spaces, showers, full refrigerators, washer/dryers, etc. Sports were designed for the weekend boat warrior.
The next layout we looked at another sport but larger. It ws not much different. Sport. Bigger boat- A bit more roomy but spaces were laid out the same.
Then after a jaunt to another location, another trek thru muddy water and melting ice (but this time without the dog poo), we came to the Carver 446 Motor yacht . This was like walking into a castle comparatively. The living room (ok ok, salon) was very spacious. Like one you might have at home. On this one you walked in no steps. The galley was down a bit, with a breakfast eat in area. There was a full refrigerator and lots of ample space in other areas.
This was one of the first AFT (in the back) cabins we had seen. James was explaining that these boats, allow for more room due to this configuration and are far more comfortable as live aboard.
Our last few boats of the day consisted of a fly bridge and Cruiser company boat special. The Cruiser while very nice, did not have an aft cabin, but this boat had all the crazy amenities, like a swim platform that raised and lowered and a satellite TV hookup, a $40k and $5k add-on aftermarket respectively.
At the end of the day, we walked away with lots literature, and a better understanding of what we were interested in and where we might be going with this. Although there were still a TRILLION questions to be resolved, at least one answer we knew. The aft cabin was a definite a keeper.
