So armed with an empty purse and a few dollars in cash we went to the show. It was held in the same location at McCormick as the auto show, just a lot smaller. We checked our multiple coats and other junk so we could walk unobstructed into the various displays. After a quickie trip to the potty, we spotted our very first yacht. She was huge! 42 ft and looming near the ‘womans’ sign. After my commune with nature I came out to find John waiting most patiently at the side of the boat. His grey green eyes expectant. Together we took the stair to the platform in order to enter the boat. (This platform we later found was called the swim platform, in a nutshell it allows you to swim/dive/waterski from the stern of the boat. It is flat platform some of which contain a little texture to prevent slippage.)
This boat was a beauty, long sweeping lines, gleaming in the indoor light. You could almost picture yourself on the bridge maneuvering her out to crystal waters. And then the bubble of illusion burst when BF couldn’t stand up in the saloon. LOL. He is my honey but he stands a mere 5’7. As I watch him bow his head to enter the deck, I saw just how easily one could be caught up in the moment by beauty and not by function. The head (bathroom of the boat) had one of those odd showers with just a hose and now shower stall. You were meant to shower and potty all at once apparently. Not to mention me and my wide hips had to turn sideways to enter the head. Well, reality comes crashing down. We were not going to just be able to pick any boat, as not any boat would obviously due.
The master-bed room (berth) was a complete joke. There was little room for 2 to be inside the room, must less on the bed. After tugging a bit we figured out the opening mechanisms for most cabinets (the few that were visible). The galley (kitchen) was very nice, stainless and granite was everywhere. We would later learn that these smaller boats are designed for weekenders. People who only use the boat on the weekend, perhaps show one time, if at all, and are apparently all height challenged.
On to our next boat. The next few boats we not near this one. In fact the boats 30+ feet we located clear on the other side of the venue. Once over there we glimpsed it! OMG there was a Azimut boat sitting right there! Well, now. We couldn’t just run up to her, we wanted to be able to say more about our love for past few weeks than, she’s pretty. After having looked at the last boat, we new then we had a lot to learn and the curve was going to be steep. So we treated this like a Xmas, opening our favorite present toward the end. Instead we went to the other lines of boats; Meridian, Sunset, and other manufacturers.
Walking through, up and down, opening hatches peeking in cabinets, sitting and laying (where permitted) we started to form impressions. We could see the things we liked, the things that made sense to our land lubbing side, but we still had no context for the boat that floats. These are the things we began to THINK about as we walked through our first boat show.
Head size. Could I fit in the door without having to squeeze in? Was the toilet the size of a tonka toy or did it look like it might be worthy of actual duty?Was If the shower was separate, could you fit in it. Turn around bend down.
Galley/Eating. Was it separate from the common areas, or was it inclusive. Did it have multiple burners on the stove? Was there a full size fridge and sink or smaller versions. Was there a built in grill and convenient water dispensers in the other areas of the boat? How far was the dining area in relationship to the galley, was it up or downstairs or not.
Lounge/Salon. Was it ample, affording more than one comfortable space to sit. Was there just a single lounging area or was there more than one? Was the area exposed to sun or under canopy? How many people could lounge at one time in or out of the sun. How difficult was it to lounge, did you have to be in the upper deck or only on the lower.
Functionality. Was there an ample sized swim platform off the stern of the boat? Did the platform allow easy access to the boat, or where there more stairs to negotiate? Were the controls (bridge) easy to get to from the lounging areas, from the galley, or was there easily a 30 second run? How easy was it to reach the bow of the boat? Were the handrails for walking on the bow, or were you supposed to figure it out? How steep were the steps, did it have a fly bridge, or not, how many floors.
Engines. Huh?? Well we know nothing about these. So, for now we just looked at the boats themselves, and at the engine compartment. Our questions were simple in this area; how many were running this thing, and where they gas or diesel, and where was the compartment for the engines.
Finally, we were ready to board the Azimut. She has a fly bridge and very, Italian styling. She is a modern beauty with a price tag to prove it all.
She was a beauty outside and in. But she was a Euro beauty. She was missing all of the American touches, no TV in every quarter, high end paneling on the walls, cryptic instrumentation, she was lacking luxury in a lot of places. We sagged at this revelation. Our American prejudices were showing through, but there was nothing we could do about that.
