It was late August in New England and the days were clear, dry and perfect but I was boarding an Eastern flight for Miami for a nice couple who ran a hotel in Hyannis. They had their eye on a big aluminum Chris Craft Roamer. It was a 73’ classic looking motor yacht with a pair of Detroit 12V71’s. The story was it just arrived at Merrill-Stevens Shipyard on the Miami River from Puerto Rico. As I understood it there were only a couple of these ever made at their Pompano Beach facility. I’d never seen one before and could find little information on this vessel but carried my KB ultrasonic thickness instrument knowing well that old aluminum can have serious wastage.
We I arrived I found the boat had been at the yard about two weeks where the yard blasted the hull, made some plate repairs, new props & Cutlass bearings, and a pricey three step bottom paint job including acid etch followed a wet alodine conversion coat and two coats of epoxy paint and antifoulant. Typical first rate Merrill-Stevens work. It was hot and thick typical late Summer Miami River day so within minutes I was sweating and my paperwork started to wrinkle and curl up. As I moved aft out of the forward stateroom I noticed both little bright green tree frogs under the toilet seats, and green big eyed Gekos on the curtains, blinds and woodwork. The buyer came in an ask how it was going and I mentioned the little passengers. He grabbed my shoulder and in a low voice said please don’t mention this around my wife. She is spooked by this kind of stuff and will walk out.
I completed the survey the next day and we all set around the table where I went through my recommendations. Behind the buyer and to her side I could see three bright green Gekos on the blinds and a locker panel grate. Her husband and the broker were visibly nervous and I kept my eyes on the job and mouth shut. They signed some paperwork and the woman and the the rest of us were all hot and sweating and wanted to move to the yard office with AC. On the way out the woman says ‘ aren’t those little lizards the owner placed on the blinds kind of cute ‘. She was about to grab one to look closer when the broker grabbed her elbow and helped her up the steps. Sale saved.
We I arrived I found the boat had been at the yard about two weeks where the yard blasted the hull, made some plate repairs, new props & Cutlass bearings, and a pricey three step bottom paint job including acid etch followed a wet alodine conversion coat and two coats of epoxy paint and antifoulant. Typical first rate Merrill-Stevens work. It was hot and thick typical late Summer Miami River day so within minutes I was sweating and my paperwork started to wrinkle and curl up. As I moved aft out of the forward stateroom I noticed both little bright green tree frogs under the toilet seats, and green big eyed Gekos on the curtains, blinds and woodwork. The buyer came in an ask how it was going and I mentioned the little passengers. He grabbed my shoulder and in a low voice said please don’t mention this around my wife. She is spooked by this kind of stuff and will walk out.
I completed the survey the next day and we all set around the table where I went through my recommendations. Behind the buyer and to her side I could see three bright green Gekos on the blinds and a locker panel grate. Her husband and the broker were visibly nervous and I kept my eyes on the job and mouth shut. They signed some paperwork and the woman and the the rest of us were all hot and sweating and wanted to move to the yard office with AC. On the way out the woman says ‘ aren’t those little lizards the owner placed on the blinds kind of cute ‘. She was about to grab one to look closer when the broker grabbed her elbow and helped her up the steps. Sale saved.
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