Marin, Martinique

We had an agenda for today.  Our cruising guide says Marin is the best stocked city in the Caribbean if you need spare parts, supplies, etc.  It says you can find anything needed to fix/replace boat items.  Well, we were on a quest to find a hose for our watermaker.  The low pressure side is leaking badly.  We have our doubts of success but are keeping our fingers crossed that the book is right!

We dinghied ashore.  Just the ride itself was an adventure, trying to veer in and out around the masses of anchored/moored boats.  Then we saw the marinas, up close and personal.  OMG … haven’t seen anything like this before.  The boats are tightly packed in their slips, fenders touching the next boat.  It is so tight!  Some are even double parked with boats in front of them, in the same slip!  This is supposed to be a great hurricane hole.  The boats are actually tied off to moorings also (never saw anything like this either) but with the number of boats, so closely packed together, we can’t imagine what it would be like if a storm came through.  We think back to our time in Fort Lauderdale when we experienced hurricanes while living on our Irwin.  The boats at our dock were moving so violently, the rigging almost got entangled with the boat beside you.  And this was a much more protected area!  Can’t imagine what these boats would be like if a ‘real’ storm came through this area!

We finally found our way through the masses and to one of the dinghy docks.  After securing our dinghy, we started on our quest.  We went to several stores that advertise they have watermaker parts.  Nope … no one had a replacement hose.  They would recommend another place.  Many suggested the same place (further up a river in town).  We finally gave up.  No one had our part L

We went to MacDonald’s for lunch (it was hard to find a spot that was even open).  I had a McFarmer.  It was a double cheeseburger, with lettuce, tomato and mayo.  Not bad.  Larry had a Filet-o-fish meal.  The total was $13.90 EU … expensive for MacDonalds!

We gave up shopping and went back to Soulmatie.