Final Ft. Lauderdale Cruise of 2011 - YF Crew Banter & Bash

Tom: This yacht always reminds me of a naval ship.

Carl: If SKAT, Izonami, Pacific and Sea Bowld were ALL in one marina, you would have a Naval base!

Chuck: Four boats we've never reviewed. I thought you had pull in naval circles Carl?

Judy: Were they not reviewed because of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy?

Loren: Cleared that up. Izanami was the older '90s Lurssen and Sea Bowld is the newer and less stark of the two hammers.

Tom: Shouldn't Ronin be in this mix?

Loren: ...and Eyeball?

Tom: A homeowner doing their part to help out the economy. Looking at the size of the house, can't wait to see the size of the yacht.

Carl: South Florida. Where else can you own a 33' boat and feel like you're on welfare.

Loren: There is not another soul other than the guy on the ladder working here. I'd suspicion that the 'owner' (him with the note) is suffering from that Italian malady known as "Mafundserlo".

Tom: Another "H" yacht, the 120-foot M/Y Sandrine. The commentary among us was that this yacht has brakes. Care to explain, my motley crew?

Carl: It's like the automotive version of the "Shooting Brake", which is a new-age term for a station wagon. The term was derived from the blur caused by acceleration, such as on film, then when the brakes are applied, the rest of the car catches up. It's a cartoonish thing. Anyhow, I'm convinced that some boats have brakes. How else could the superstructure be so far forward?

Loren: Carl, the Brand V motoryacht line of the late '80s-early '90s designed by your West Coast buddies suffer from even greater foredeck deficit.

Tom: I want to know what kind of duty this guy was on to get that swanky crib and ride?

Carl: I was looking at that trio of Verados and wondering the odds of them all running at the same time?

Loren: Maybe a new truism: Difference between yachts and boats? Mooring whips.

Tom: New style of hurricane shutters, plywood brown?

Carl: Was that wood or cardboard covering the windows, 'cause it looks like masking tape is holding them up.

Tom: It's the leftover cardboard from the kitchen appliances. Hey, need to be green.

Loren: Hey Tom--the Better Homes & Gardens forum is down the hall.

Judy: Not in their wildest dreams...

Loren: Optimists who raise winged pigs in their backyard?

Tom: I wonder if Doris knows what the starboard side of the hull looks like?

Judy: I would guess that's what Guy Harvey's boat looks like.

Loren: A couple of summers ago, I watched this boat go out almost every day. Definitely not poseurs.

Tom: Never seen this yacht before. Are those waterjet drives?

Loren: 102' Derector. Been around a long time.

Tom: This yacht has a lot of Charisma.

Loren: She is also true blue.

Tom: Judy, Loren, thoughts on this one?

Judy: I think this is Nordhavn's best looking offering yet.

Carl: Looks real good! I think we'll see pewter proliferate in hull color swatches.

Loren: Only thing missing is the broker sign.

Tom: Why is the helmsman whistling: "Raindrops keep falling on my head...".

Carl: Gives new meaning to Crow's nest?

Judy: Is that rigging tired or just pooped?

Loren: Incoming!!

Tom: "To life, to life, l'chaim". From what movie/play?

Judy: No fiddlin' on that roof.

Carl: I think this is a 68' Hargrave Capri? A pocket yacht by today's standards. All the amenities of its bigger brothers without breaking the bank. I hope Mike sold a bunch of these boats so an affordable selection will be available to mere mortals in the future. Solid glass beneath the boot stripe! This was one of our first reviews... Hargrave 68' Capri

Loren: Bulwarks add shippy-ness to this little guy.

Tom: Another from the big T builder. Thanks John.

Carl: Another treat from Trinity is 'Imagine'. Delivered early in 2007, but it was no treat for Trinity. Imagine is one of the boats in build when Hurricane Katrina roared through the gulf coast, causing Trinity to move their entire operation from Louisiana to Gulfport, accommodating displaced workers and their families while building out an entirely new shipyard. At the time, nobody could Imagine the feat they pulled off. Kudos to the entire Trinity team!

Tom: PJ M/Y Hush.

Carl: Mike Kelsey, Jr. ushered in a new era for Palmer Johnson by enlisting Nuvolari & Lenard's futuristic designs, but one thing remained constant... they still looked like PJ's on the inside. Just a few years ago, PJ had 100's of employees. Word is, they are barely breaking a dozen now.

Loren: Somebody out there in the ether is coveting this boat.

Tom: The undeniable form and finish of Delta.

Carl: No Comment.

Tom: Wuss!

Loren: Top dogs command a commensurate price.

Tom: From the land of low bridges?

Carl: Ironically, the new Silver Shalis is a Delta. The one pictured here was built by Abeking. Yes Tom, it's a low profile boat because it was built for speed. 3400 MTU's are driving a trio of waterjets. No doubt she's thirsty, but she'll get up and go. I think cruise is around 25 knots!

Loren: The shear has an Italian look about it.

Carl: ... might look Italian, but it'll need an Arab owner. With an oil refinery!

Tom: Another blue hull so it must be a Delta.

Carl: OK, I'll comment. There are many fine yacht builders. It's vitally important that good communication exists between a buyer and a yard because you are entering into a relationship that will last several years and several thousand details. Quality of construction is critical, but communication is crucial. The triangle has three points. I just made mine.

Loren: Maybe Esperanto works.

Tom: "Tommy Time"... reminds me that I need a day off. Glad to see the kid in a lifejacket.

Carl: Really Riva, are you so bad at cost control that you have to charge two times too much? The sales slogan should be..."boats for people with more dollars than sense."

Loren: Like Magnum over on these shores, Carlo Riva built for the rich, famous, and royalty; not for the great unwashed.

Tom: A pretty stout Scout.

Carl: First time I've seen one. I see some Everglades in the DNA...

Loren: Another boat that won't make it under the Mercedes River bridge.

Tom: If there ever was a boat that was mis-named, it has to be Bluewater.

Carl: That's Seriolously funny!

Loren: Miami Boat Show, mid-eighties. Marriott Marina. Ongoing demo rides. Bow pulpits pranging neighbor's bowrails (and worse). The Bluewater guy managed his dockings with aplomb. BTW, there is one of these plying the waters of the Rio de la Plata, Buenos Aires.