It's Show Time!!

If it's the second weekend in October then it must be time for the US Sailboat Show here in our fair hamlet of Annapolis. It's a big deal. A very big deal. The whole town is transformed into a showcase of the latest and greatest in boats and boat gear. The set up is so elaborate that even after living here since 1998, I still get confused when walking around the show as to where exactly I am in the harbor. And for people like us who quite literally live, sleep, and breathe sailboats, it's like a really expensive candy shop. Things like this get me all giddy.

We geeked out. I guess it's how crafty mamas feel at wool fairs and fabric shops. Only much more expensive and the ground tends to wobble a lot.

So here's our official Zach Aboard boat show picks:

Zach's favorite item...
Cannons that mount right on your winch. Yes, they are real cannons in that they fire black powder shells that go boom. Made by Ye Olde Cannon Maker Zach has this on his wish list, because, you know, they're piratey. And they go boom. What else is there in life?

Daddy's pick of the show... The composting head (that's a toilet to you land lubbers). I have to be honest, I wanted nothing to do with this little item until I went and heard their spiel. Now I have to say, sure, why not?
It's on the long term maybe list. It's made by Naure's Head.

The thing I coveted at the show we ended up buying. And it's no small thing. it will be a fairly major change and upgrade to our interior, but it won't be ready for 4-6 weeks. So I will keep it a secret until then. But the  funny little thing that called to me were these.

I didn't buy a pair. But between the crazy design and the fun colors, it was tempting.

Zach's favorite part of the show was seeing all the boats of course, "even the monohulls."
There was the insanely luxurious...
(this is just the starboard hull of a luxury catamaran... basically where our book nook and Zach's room would be)

(above is the aft master state room on an Oyster sailboat that can be all yours for $3.5 million)

And the funky starter boats...

(a wee little galley aboard a wee little catamaran)

But of course my boy's favorite were the old fashioned ships on display. He's got a pirate soul.

The best part of boat show weekend for me is seeing familiar faces and old friends. It's my favorite part of the fall season here on the watery crossroads of the mid-Atlantic coast. We had a lovely visit with our dear friends Shara and David Virtue who we cruised along side throughout the Florida Keys and Bahamas. David is a talented jeweler who made our wedding rings... it's a long crazy story but the short of it is we love these two madly like they were family and seeing them was like heading south on our boat all over again.