Day 2: Electric Boogaloo

Ok- sorry for the cryptic 80s reference title...it has nothing to do with today.

One of the most popular questions of the last 6 months was, "Do you have a boat yet?"  To which I always replied, "Not yet," with maybe a sigh and a wink or a smirk...  Tyler and I thought a great deal about how and when to get our boat.  I should be clear: Tyler has been thinking about that for about 11 years, I recently joined in 6 months ago.  Aside from one, both or all 3 family members jet setting across the country every time a boat looked promising, we felt that the best idea was to wait until we arrived at our first destination and then begin finding a boat.  Correct that- THE boat: our home, transportation, entire life for the next few months.
This is not as crazy as it sounds.  A popular saying among people who live among boats is that "boats grow on trees."   I'm hoping maybe there is a money tree next to that boat tree...
Along with getting our bearings, a rental car, non-hotel coffee and swimming today- we looked at our first 2 boats!  2 boats in one day may seem like a small number if the process were like purchasing a used car: kick the tires, look at the interior and make an offer.  One of the most important parts of this boat purchasing process is the opportunity for Tyler to talk to the men selling the boats.  (sorry if this part sounds pretty sexist- I would hang and talk if our 7 year old were not...well..being 7.  We ARE planning to speak to a woman tomorrow)   Included with the pics of the boats are some bits of information gained from the seller.  Priceless.
Boat 1 was a 32' Ericson that needed a great deal of work and it is dry docked- so we got to climb a 20 foot rusty set of portable stairs...hooray!  Tyler got to hold a real seacock- sorry no pics of that!  Needless to say, he feels much more secure now.  Information learned: centerboards bang and rattle, diesel fuel is 7-9 dollars a gallon in the Bahamas and relying on Mr. Magoo (autopilot) may lead to a friendly meeting with a Cuban gunboat.

Boat 2 was a 30' O'Day.  While checking out the boat we were visited by local wildlife- a small (according to the local man) iguana and his friends.  Information learned:  hurricanes are "no big deal, just look at (the weather) happening around the country,"  the only thing you really need to know about sailing in the Bahamas is how to judge the depth of the water by the color.

And one final picture: the reason we are going on this adventure: