November 14th, 2019

 Ahoy!

Over the weekend Tim and I went to a small boat show in Sarasota.  Part of it was inside the arena, part of it was outside and all of it was fun.  Let me make it very clear that, at least for right now, we have no intention of buying a boat.  It's just fun to look.

Perhaps because at least half of my genetic make up comes from a long line of sea farers, boat lingo comes much more easily to me than say, RV speak.  I know most of the really important words like: galley, head, fore, aft, bilge and mast.  I know my starboard from my port, my bow from my stern and my boat from my ship.  Like I said, the important stuff.

We prowled around admiring things and discussing the benefits of a center console as opposed to a side console with the sales people.  Tim debated outboard versus inboard with them and they all were quick to point out the storage capabilities and comfortable seating with me.  My first question is always...is there a bathroom (or head), because that is at the top of my list.  Tim wants to know about power and fuel efficiency.  Neither of us care about anything fishing related.  

99% of the sales people were very nice, friendly, informative, eager to engage us in conversation but not pushy at all.  They know that the vast majority of people there are just looking, just like we were.  That's how it works.  The same thing happens at car shows and the infamous Parade of Homes.  People are just mostly just looking.  It's free or relatively inexpensive entertainment.  And most sales people start out knowing that and are fine with it.  

But there is always that one.

This time it was the guy manning a particular brand of a Pontoon boat. There is nothing wrong with a pontoon boat, Nothing at all.  But even if we were in the market for a boat, that would not be one that we would be interested in.  We only looked at it because it was there and we looked at them all.  Seriously that is the only reason.

The sales guy was, hmmm, I will be kind and say assertive.  He really wanted to sell and he especially wanted to sell to us.  He started out pleasant enough but still with that little undercurrent of aggression that puts me off instantly. 

His jokes were not only not funny, they were borderline offensive, all sotto voce but still.  We were looking at the boat from the ground.  He kept encouraging us to go aboard.  Which is fine I suppose, but instead of a roll up ladder to get up into the thing, they had taped a straight ladder. I declined with a smile.  Tim shimmed up the ladder with no problem.  The sales guy kept insisting that I get on the boat. I declined again, with a tighter smile.  He pushed harder.  I indicated the ladder and said that I wasn't sure I was up to the task, I even did that little self deprecating laugh at the end. He wasn't having it.  "You look spry enough to me" he said.  Spry.  I look spry.  My Gawd.  Spry.  I still cannot get over being considered spry.  It makes me sound like I am a thousand years old.  

I hate to admit it, but the "spry" word actually worked and I was up the ladder in no time.  Once I got up there I turned and said, "it has nothing to do with spry and everything to do with grace."  He kind of sneered and went on to extol the many virtues of his boat.  We listened and then we left both of us really put off by his attitude.   We moved on  to other boats, far better suited to our taste and without snarky salespeople.

We tend to gravitate to Catamarans. They just feel so very solid in the water.  Saw some mighty nice ones too.   The little tunnel underneath when you are looking at the hull always cracks me up.  Our favourite had a nice little (little being the operative word) galley, a cute little sleeping cabin and of course the most important thing, a bathroom.  There were lovely details like the trim work and the beautiful flooring and a surprising amount of light in the sleeping cabin.  The vessel was navy blue and white with a thin line of red just for fun.  We really liked it a lot.

We have always admired Catamarans and everytime we go to a boat show we are just more in love with them.  When (and if) the day ever comes that we actually do buy a boat, odds are really good that it will be a Cat of some sort.

So anyway.  That was our day at the boat show and other than that one annoying sales guy, it was a Terrific Day!  And at least it is now well documented at even at my apparently very advanced age, I am Spry. (geez - that still bugs me)