Well, its been a while… But perhaps less writing means more thinking. Well, just perhaps.
Last weekend I went out to the Simply Sail… Sorta Sail.. or Silly Sail.. Whatever it was a sailboat show. This one was held at Navy Pier, waayyyaaa down at the end. Who knew there were rooms down that far. I had never been inside on the pier that far down. Anyway, the sail show cost 12$ per and was a huge open space with sailboat vendors and other sailing related businesses scattered throughout the venue.
We saw our first boat just inside the entry way. It was a sexy sleek thing, that had steps leading up to an entry from the side of the ship. With no one else there but a single guy on his cell phone standing on the bow, it was a good first trip. We hurriedly took off our shoes eager to set foot on the deck. At first glance, she was like any other ship we had been on at the previous show. She had a deck, a swim platform, a hatch leading to hidden areas. But our first foot on the deck told a different story. Climbing onto the boat from the side, put our first step on a couch, and the next on to the deck. A quick walk to the stern (note now I can recall some of the terms), reveals a very slim swim platform. In fact, the word platform might indeed be misleading. A swim step might be more accurate. Where other powerboats typically had enough room to stash a dingy or skedoo, this one was a slim excuse for swimming. At about 1 maybe 2 feet past the end of the boat, I couldn’t even fathom using it to just go swimming from. And now I understood why the aft part of the boat was always called the bridge. Low and behold there was steering here. A large steering wheel, akin to a throwback from Cap’tn Hooks days. Next to the wheel was a u-shaped area for sitting. (Note, I said next too). You were apparently supposed to be standing when you were actually piloting the boat. Hmmm..The seating was comfortable (if you were sitting for only a few minutes). Without cushions the entire area was plastic.The steering wheel (Im sure its called something else., LOL) and its console with some controls is at te opening of this U aft of the boat.
Next we head down below. But, something is awry, the deck is curved just at the entry way to down below. I am completely perplexed. I mean really curved, So that your foot really couldn’t find flat purchase. In fact, the steps leading down, were also curved. They were carved of wood and curved. Hmm..
After a careful trip down (descending like you might go down a normal set of stairs) we enter the salon. It is completely decked out in wood like materials. None of that laminate stuff here, and not much glass either. It was very enclosed. We peeked at the head and the berth(s). The berths were normal powerboat sided, but the head, was one of those shower combo ones. But this one had a plank of wood that was hinged and on top of/ over the toilet. Like you might sit when you shower, but not on the toilet itself. The galley was tight. BF and I brushed shoulders trying to pass each other. Additionally, it contained a large pool presumably for a later sail to be attached up top. The refrigerator in the ship was not at all a landlubbers. It was more like one of those top freezers. There was a top and a door to the 3 ft model. You could put items in through the counter or bend and open the door. Hmmm..And oddest of all was the stove. It was a real stove. It had gas burners and an oven. Up untill now (in about 99% of powerboats) the stove had been electric, and no oven was an any of them. They mostly had those convection microwaves, capable of performing both functions.
Then suddenly our trance of all the new oddities was broken as someone else descended the steps to where we were. But wait! they are coming down backward, holding rails as they come. Hmmm.. After that we emerged from the quarters and returned to the deck. From there we looked forward and noted no layout areas. But there were lots of places to hook things. And the deck was suspiciously absent of sails, but you could see where the mast might go.
We had to sit on deck for a minute to take it all in.
Up until now, I had read about heeling and how when you are under sail the boat is at an angle. We had read about filblets or fillets or whatever the little bumpers are on counters to keep food from sliding around. We had read about a method to secure the cook during sailing so she or he doesn’t go bouncing about while under way. We had read about people nailing down their plants so they don’t move at sea. But up until this time, did we really understand how important that was in a sail boat. I have been on a few boats, fishing, driving and what not. They rock a bit, especially with rough waters or when trying to do 35 knots. But the boat on plane was still relatively stable. Apparently on heel is another thing. This sailboat and all its provisions were to keep the crew from being bounced about. (Well except for the GAS stove, now that is a mystery. Perhaps its like those stupid gps in some cars that you cant use while you are driving. What a dumb idea, but that’s a diatribe for another day)
So our first sailboat viist was revealing and quite certainly not our cup of tea! There was no place to RELAX with a sea breeze in your hair. All the places above deck seemed uncomfortable or work spaces. No swim platform, no cushions, and no layout spaces! Its camping all over. And I don’t think roughing it is what either of us had in mind. But our journey, at least at the show had just begun. Perhaps this boat, was an outlier- an oddity among others. We pressed on.
After 5 more boats, we found 5 more of the same. Hmm.. Well at least we know that sailing and sailboats “Aint my bag baby!”
