Couple tourist boats

[Gringo]

We keep our boat in a slip at the only real 'boatyard' on the island. Probably the only real boatyard in the nation. It seems that sooner or later, every boat in the TCI that needs any work done shows up on the hard here. That means that we get to see a good variety of boats.

This past weekend we were through there a lot as we were out on the Contender both days.

There were two boats in the yard and LaGringa and the dog wandered over to take some photos while I was exploring the issue of fouled spark plugs on a Yamaha 300 HPDI . ( wow, they get ugly in a hurry don't they? And unobtainable down here, unfortunately. $$$$)

This is a boat that takes people out on tours on the reef. We believe this is the same one we have seen tied up near the Tiki Hut at Turtle Cove. With the gin clear waters here and this fantastic reef system, I think this would be a cool thing for people to do.



I don't know what that funkly loop antenna looking thing is.
RDF?

People without boats and snorkel stuff, of course. Still it would be fun to be able to point and talk about all the fishies etc. with grandma or little kids. Or for a way for people with physical disabilities to see the reef safely.




Now this boat...I dunno. La Gringa and I first saw it making it's way across the Caicos Bank a couple years ago. It was not riding well in about a two foot chop. And a two foot chop here is just about the most common sea we have on this side. Later on, we saw some people working on it at Turtle Cove, and we went over to meet the guy who turned out to be one of the owners. A very nice guy, a Brit I think. (most of the white people you meet here are Brit or Canadian)




Their idea was to charter it out for functions, like weddings or excursions, and it was fitted out with cooking and food and beverage serving capabilities.

We often have wondered how they did with that business. Getting outside Turtle Cove and outside the reef is one tricky little passage. Outside the reef, well, this boat design doesn't strike me as the best ride on 4-6 foot swells, and that is pretty common on the better days.

Maybe they are doing well with it, I hope so. That's a lot of money and effort to sink into a business here.

Personally, I think they might know more about the restaurant business than they do about boats.

[Lbifisherman429]

that bottom boat (not sure of the technical name) would be good on a calm river

[Gringo]

that bottom boat (not sure of the technical name) would be good on a calm river

Yeah, that's my thinking on it, too. I just can't get it in my head that it was intended to work in the ocean. Flat bottoms and big waves don't seem to go together.

[La Gringa]

that bottom boat (not sure of the technical name) would be good on a calm river

It looks like a river boat. The day we saw it in just a couple foot chop it was rockin' and rollin'!!!

[OCtuna]

cool looking boats