Top 11 Ways to Spot a Full Time Cruiser

As an experienced boater who charters sailboats annually in the Caribbean, it is my earned vacation time to leave the Northeast cold behind and enjoy the warm beautiful waters of the Caribbean.  I admit our vessels look like colorful advertising bulletin boards for whatever charter company we select to charter from.  It is those who call themselves full time cruisers or circumnavigators that feel we charterers should have no public use of "their waters, mooring fields or their special anchorages".  For anyone looking to take a bare boat charter, here is how you can spot a "full time cruiser" and stay away from:

This post is Tongue and Cheek in response to a thread written by Mike on Zero to Cruising (http://www.zerotocruising.com/10-tips-for-spotting-a-charter-boat).  I am just having a little fun!!!  Please know what tongue and cheek means.  Cruisers are my inspiration!

Until the Lines are Untied Again!

1)  They believe they are navigational, sailing and reef experts and do
not need charts or GPS to safely enter the next port.

2)  You will find blood all over their decks and cockpits from thinking
they know how to land a fish. They generally never clean the blood and
guts as they want to conserve water.

3)  You will never see a hot girl on the bow of the boat tanning.  Their boat
bows will have 15 five gallon cans full of water and gas.  They will have
7anchors for each day of the week, enough laundry for a hand me down
thrift store, a dinghy that is rolled up and falling apart and a big blue tarp
the length of the boat blocking the sun.

4)  Their boat always looks like they never completed any projects they
started.  

5)  They think they are Pirates all the time and say "Argh" every chance
they get.  You want a beer?  Argh!  Which anchor you using?  Argh!
What project are you starting this week?   Argh!

6)  They are always in bosun chairs up the mast trying to get a better
view of the charterers and all their hot chicks.  We call them masting toms!

7)  They swim, sail and believe in being nude all the time.  

8)  They make fun of charters and how we anchor.  They watch with
entertainment in their eyes to see if we can anchor properly and
pick up the mooring ball without yelling.  You will see more
full time cruisers boats dragging, on beaches, on rocks, etc. They should
be more concerned about  how they anchor.

9)  They think women's boobies are sponges and are used for cleaning
the boats windows.

10)  You will never see a full time cruiser with a double hook up like us
charterers can.

11)  They will never have a bar bought cocktail in their hands.  In
fact, they will never offer to buy a charterer a drink at all, but will
accept them all night.

Latitudes & Attitudes Cruisers Party Miami

This will end my "Miami Boat Show" posts.  This last post is about one of the best attractions for me at the show, the Latitudes & Attitudes Cruisers Party.  Sailors are about the freedom and cruising lifestyle.  There is no discriminating divide between money classes.  Although I am a power boater, I am really more of a sailor at heart, mind and spirit.  I guess I have to admit I am Bi (bi-boater).  Thank you Bob Bitchin and Latitudes & Attitudes for another great cruisers party.

Until the Lines are Untied Again!

CLICK on "Latitudes & Attitudes Cruisers Party" to watch on YouTube

Miami-The Final Night

The final night in Miami and the sun is going down!  They say "save the best for last", and that saying proved itself out for the last night of the boat show.  One of the draws to the boat show for me is the Latitudes and Attitudes Cruisers Party.  It is always a good time with great people, food, beer (and painkillers) and good music by Eric Stone.  Thanks Bob and Jody Bitchin for another great party!

Until the Lines are Untied Again!

CLICK on PHOTO to ENLARGE and VIEW SLIDE SHOW

Eric Stone is a mix between Zac Brown and Sir Jimmy Buffet, how Kewl.

Waitress service provided by Cindy.  Just kidding!  She is always at the
bar though!!

The always photographic Latitudes & Attitudes Sailor group picture.

Cindy got very serious with her raffle tickets.  We won zero!

I thought it was a conch shell and another woman said it looked like
throw up......It is just a purse.

Four (4) Macaws and one (1) set of stolen glasses.  The Macaw stole
her glasses off her head without Cindy knowing it.

A good sport!  Not what Cindy had in mind for the night.  Thank god
for alcohol!

Miami Boat Show 2012 Video

Here is a video of pictures put to video of the Miami Boat Show.

Until the Lines are Untied Again!

CLICK on "Miami Boat Show 2012" to watch on YouTube

Miami Boat Show- Day Three (3) and Five (5) Into the Night

Here are just some miscellaneous pictures from a couple of nights out on the town in Miami.

Until the Lines are Untied Again!

CLICK on PHOTO to ENLARGE and VIEW SLIDE SHOW

We had a great meal at Smith & Wollensky.  We told the cab driver to
take us to "Joe's Stone Crab House" and he brought us here.  I
guess we had a communication problem.

Cindy said "what are you doing now John" and i said "taking
your picture Vanna White"

I took Cindy for a walk along the board walk at the Miami Beach Marina.
I refused to pick up her mess she made.  See last photo!

Cindy will do anything I tell her to.  This was a keel tree that looked
like a hand holding her in the palm of the hand.

Monty's has been cleaned up a bit, but is still a good bar to hang out at.
Monty turned to wood when he hugged Cindy.

The Bayside has great live entertainment at night.  This is my
favorite hangout in Miami.

Cynthia looking for a couple of necklaces to bring home to her kids.

Any guy in the process of engagement or thinking of marriage.....Please
don't take this sign lightly.

This poor vendor is just trying to make a living and Cindy is trying
to get him down $.50 cents.  

Aphrodisiac, Aphrodisiac, Aphrodisiac!  Oysters, shrimp and Lobstah. 

I told Cynthia if she ate every oyster, I would take a picture with
her....I won!

Look at the mess she made in the cab.  She just had to bring ice cream
back to the hotel!  We used the dog poop bag to clean it up.

Miami Boat Show- Day Four (4) Strictly Sail

My favorite part of the boat show is Strictly Sail at the Bayside.  Taking a short water taxi ride is a nice way to see the Miami skyline from a boat.  Tonight we will be attending the Latitudes & Attitudes Cruisers Party.  When you walk the docks of the sailboat show, one certainly feels a more laid-back feeling from the sailor versus the power boater.  The Beneteau Sense 43 and Leopard Catamaran were my two (2) favorite boats.

Until the Lines are Untied Again!

CLICK on PHOTO to ENLARGE and VIEW SLIDE SHOW

Cruise Ship Alley on our way to Strictly Sail @ Bayside.

Cindy enjoying the view of Miami from the water taxi.

It is important to stay hydrated when at Boat Shows.  Cindy at the bar
again!  

The Sense 55 & 43 by Beneteau was incredibly beautiful, functional
and one sexy sailboat.  

The Jeanneau had many great features and would take you anywhere
in the world safely and in great comfort.

If cruising in the Caribbean, a Leopard Catamaran would
be a great choice.

The Leopard 44 would be my choice for a cat.

The Gemini 34 provides big boat features in a small package.  The
smaller beam would make this a good Northeast cruiser.

Hookah!  The owner must be from Boston.  They did not serve Lobstah.

I have always liked the Catalina 385 for a mid size mono hull.

Cindy had to have a picture with Bob Bitchin.  He makes her
look good!  We look forward to the Latitudes & Attitudes cruisers party.

Miami Boat Show- Day Three (3)

Day three (3) was a good day to sit by the pool, catch up on some work and stay at the boat show at the hotel (Sea Isles Marina).  It was a restful and laid back day as we head over to the Strictly Sail Show @ the Bayside later today for the sailboats and Latitudes & Attitudes Party tonight.

Until the Lines are Untied Again!

CLICK on PHOTO to ENLARGE and VIEW SLIDE SHOW

The Sabre 42 is probably my favorite boat for style, build quality and
overall customer needs.

Boats lined up for another day of heavy foot traffic on them.  I
would love to watch the docking of these boats for the shows set up.

The Searay 44.  They do not make this hull anymore, but they
outfitted this boat with a new set of power plants.

The Nordic Tug always catches my attention.  A great boat for doing
the great loop or the Caribbean.

Leopards power cats were well layed out for cruising and entertaining.
We do not see cats in the Northeast that much.

The Sabre 48 just says "class".  The lines and details are a boaters dream.

Sea Isles Marina Boat Show from our room.

A sexy drink on the patio overlooking the boat show re-hydrated us.

Miami Boat Show- Day Two (2)

Day two (2) brought a trip to the convention center to see that portion of the show.  For me it was about seeing the line up of Searay's over 40 feet.  Searay displayed the 45 Sedan Bridge ($872,000.00), 41 Dancer ($675,000.00), 47 Dancer ($825,000.00) and 54 Dancer ($1,385,000.00).  All beautiful boats with a certain customer and boating need in mind.  The layouts were all original and designed to cater to the individual buyer in mind.  I will say that Searay's quality is exceptional.  The 54 Dancer was the over all winner, but at $1,4000,000 I moved on to the boats under a million.  The 47 Dancer took the prize in this price and the Meridien 44 followed closely behind ($548,000.00).  I was impressed with both the 54 ($1,345,000.00) and 44 Meridien's.  Searay (Brunswick) now owns and builds Meridien's.  Meridien's price point is on target where I think Searay may be pricing their boats on the higher end.

Until the Lines are Untied Again!

CLICK on PHOTO to ENLARGE and VIEW SLIDE SHOW

The 54 Dancer offered a generous cockpit and every amenity you would
expect to see in a yacht of this size.

Every type of boat was at the show from center consoles, to pontoon boats,
to go fast sexy boats and yachts.

The 54 Meridien would provide ample room and size for any family
cruising.  They incorporated larger yacht features into a boat of this size.

The 44 Meridien had a wonderful cockpit, bridge and interior layout.

Cynthia felt right at home on the bridge of the 44 Meridien.

This is just a portion of the boats that were on display at the
convention center.

Cindy was all excited about this hat that will stay on your head at 40 knots,
will never lose its form, can be packed in a suitcase.  She thought she
looked like a Palm Beach chick.

Texas scares me.  Machine guns with lasers all over this boat.  I
would not run from the "Texas Highway Patrol".

Power Boat innovator Reggie Fountain looking at the many racing
style boats.  He is the founder of Fountain boats and racing.

Dam girls were in the way of the picture I was trying to take of the rear
wheels on the trailer.

It is so nice how the tree's are in bloom and so colorful.  The girl got
in the way of this picture too.