it’s because I have always wanted a pontoon boat or a party boat or whatever they are called. I don’t have a need for a fast boat as I’m not in a hurry anymore in life. I just want something to fish off, to set a grill up on, and to enjoy some good times on with my wife and friends. I told Steve I have always wanted a pontoon boat, so I guess if you are taking the time to show it to me, I guess it’s up for sale. This boat does have some repairs which need making, so it all depends on the price he is asking.”
“Sounds like you been thinking on this for some time now. Listen here, Steve wants me to do two things and he always wants me to do them his way. At least that’s what he done told me on the phone last night. He wants me to get moving on buying a new pontoon boat for the marina and he wants me to sell this old tub to you. That’s if you’re interested and all in it.”
Chubby explained that Steve’s style was to always treat his marina customers the right way. He further explained that Steve had recently begun to feel the aging pontoon boat was a poor reflection upon the marina, so he had instructed him to start looking for a newer one.
“So this here boat is yours if ya want it. Well, not exactly like that, free and all I mean. Steve told me you can have the boat and the trailer for one thousand dollars. The trailer is over yonder there in the parking lot. That’s not too bad a deal, I guess. He also told me to tell ya everything works on the boat, including the navigational lights. The deal also includes a small anchor and that large Igloo ice chest sitting right there. Part of the deal he is giving ya includes mooring it here for the rest of the summer if ya want. He ain’t gonna charge ya for that.”
Paul bent over and opened the large white colored Igloo ice chest to see what kind of shape it was in. “A cooler this size could come in handy for storing cold beer and sandwiches in on future river trips,” he thought to himself. As he opened the lid, besides noticing the cooler’s white interior was no longer remotely close to being white, a strong foul smelling fishy odor emanated from the inside. The cooler was partially full of warm rancid water. The odor, coupled with the heat of the day, was strong enough that it made Paul gag. It almost caused him to lose the lunch he had eaten about two hours earlier.
“Guess it needs cleaning, huh?”
“Chubby, that’s a slight understatement as it needs more than a cleaning. Burning it would be a good idea. You’re not getting the smell out of that thing.”
Inspecting the boat a little bit more, Paul saw it had been properly registered in South Carolina and had also been inspected earlier in the year by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. A DNR 2011 sticker was properly displayed near the bow section of the boat.
Paul then walked over to where the boat trailer sat in the marina’s parking lot. As he inspected the Load Rite trailer, which was painted a deep red, he noticed Chubby had climbed onto the boat and had unfurled the boat’s blue canvass top. He was not sure if Chubby had done so to stay out of the afternoon sun or if he had done that so the canvass top could be inspected while he was there looking at the boat. Either way, he took his time giving the trailer a once over to make sure it was in decent shape. Inspecting the trailer, he noticed one of the rear tandem tires on the right side had gone flat, likely from the trailer having sat unused in the parking lot for so long. Overall, the trailer proved to be in good condition. Paul was pleased it had been included in the offer with the boat.
After taking the time to inspect the boat’s canvass top, Chubby motioned for them to walk over to the steps outside the side door of the marina’s office. The steps also led to the marina’s showroom area. The steps were out of the sun and by now Paul welcomed the opportunity to sit in the shade. Sitting there, they talked
“Sounds like you been thinking on this for some time now. Listen here, Steve wants me to do two things and he always wants me to do them his way. At least that’s what he done told me on the phone last night. He wants me to get moving on buying a new pontoon boat for the marina and he wants me to sell this old tub to you. That’s if you’re interested and all in it.”
Chubby explained that Steve’s style was to always treat his marina customers the right way. He further explained that Steve had recently begun to feel the aging pontoon boat was a poor reflection upon the marina, so he had instructed him to start looking for a newer one.
“So this here boat is yours if ya want it. Well, not exactly like that, free and all I mean. Steve told me you can have the boat and the trailer for one thousand dollars. The trailer is over yonder there in the parking lot. That’s not too bad a deal, I guess. He also told me to tell ya everything works on the boat, including the navigational lights. The deal also includes a small anchor and that large Igloo ice chest sitting right there. Part of the deal he is giving ya includes mooring it here for the rest of the summer if ya want. He ain’t gonna charge ya for that.”
Paul bent over and opened the large white colored Igloo ice chest to see what kind of shape it was in. “A cooler this size could come in handy for storing cold beer and sandwiches in on future river trips,” he thought to himself. As he opened the lid, besides noticing the cooler’s white interior was no longer remotely close to being white, a strong foul smelling fishy odor emanated from the inside. The cooler was partially full of warm rancid water. The odor, coupled with the heat of the day, was strong enough that it made Paul gag. It almost caused him to lose the lunch he had eaten about two hours earlier.
“Guess it needs cleaning, huh?”
“Chubby, that’s a slight understatement as it needs more than a cleaning. Burning it would be a good idea. You’re not getting the smell out of that thing.”
Inspecting the boat a little bit more, Paul saw it had been properly registered in South Carolina and had also been inspected earlier in the year by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. A DNR 2011 sticker was properly displayed near the bow section of the boat.
Paul then walked over to where the boat trailer sat in the marina’s parking lot. As he inspected the Load Rite trailer, which was painted a deep red, he noticed Chubby had climbed onto the boat and had unfurled the boat’s blue canvass top. He was not sure if Chubby had done so to stay out of the afternoon sun or if he had done that so the canvass top could be inspected while he was there looking at the boat. Either way, he took his time giving the trailer a once over to make sure it was in decent shape. Inspecting the trailer, he noticed one of the rear tandem tires on the right side had gone flat, likely from the trailer having sat unused in the parking lot for so long. Overall, the trailer proved to be in good condition. Paul was pleased it had been included in the offer with the boat.
After taking the time to inspect the boat’s canvass top, Chubby motioned for them to walk over to the steps outside the side door of the marina’s office. The steps also led to the marina’s showroom area. The steps were out of the sun and by now Paul welcomed the opportunity to sit in the shade. Sitting there, they talked
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