You might call it Culture Cruising. We believe that many cruisers can enrich their experience by interacting more intimately with the host culture. That seems obvious, but it is easy to get trapped in the routine of choosing between cockpit drinks or local pub happy hours, or simply seeing the well-beaten path that every tourist strolls.

Getting off those beaten paths and experiencing firsthand how the local people live can be an extremely rewarding way of cruising. Many talk about it, but far fewer actually do it. Come along with BoatMexico (remember you find us as BoatMexico, not Boat Mexico) and let us present you with ideas, options, and even discounts to enhance your enjoyment and memories. You might just end up liking it so much (like what happened to us and countless others) that you won’t want to leave!

You probably won’t want to move into one of these modified cave-houses and live like many of the indigenous Indians, but you can enjoy meeting these beautiful people and appreciate their hardiness, self-sufficiency (What sailor doesn’t admire that?!), and affinity for bright colors.

Mexicans are music. They live and breathe music. Everybody knows how to dance. I’ve marveled with envy while watching every age and degree of physique and figure gyrate to Latin rhythms as naturally as waves form from winds.

You can hear extremely high quality voices sung and tunes played in the streets, on city buses, on the beaches, in the bars, in clubs, or even blaring from neighborhood speakers. Professional musicians who have moved to Mexico or visit here attest to the abundance of incredible talent.

Food is nearly always an ethnic reflection. The ingredients indicate what animals and plants are present in the country and the methods of preparation reflect the history and economics. Imitations of these foods in our own country, even when prepared by those of the ethnic origin never match the flavor and quality of the native cuisine. That’s partly because of not having the fresh ingredients from the country and partly because there is huge pressure to alter the food to popular tastes.

BoatMexico’s Food Loft will show you how to prepare in a variety of ways such things as nopales, a cactus frequently found near anchorages. Recipes of Mexican dishes written by local Mexicans will let you properly provision your vessel and prepare some of Mexico’s delicious and surprisingly healthy victuals. Who would have thought that Mexican meals could be so healthy?!

Some others are simply colorful and tasty.

Mexicans celebrate life and they even celebrate death. Rather than focusing on the negative aspects of losing loved ones, Mexicans worship the positive. The Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, is the Mexican equivalent of Memorial Day in the U.S. or Remembrance Day in Canada, but Rememberance Day being more an honor of the war dead and similar to the U.S. Veterans Day.

On the Day of the Dead, the favorite foods and other tokens of the deceased lives are assembled in their tribute. The good times that were shared with their family, friends, and community are discussed.

Old skeletal remains can be found in remote areas, but unlike similar finds in some other countries that consider these sacred, there appears, at least in some areas, to be a more matter-of-fact attitude about them. Yet graveyards are often kept beautiful with flowers, well-kept grounds, and impressive monuments.

At BoatMexico, we bring you more of the nautical necessities that you need online for cruising Mexico safely, and a whole lot more. We are connecting boaters in Mexico (R), not only with one another and your nautical needs, but with Mexico itself. If you want your cruise to be more than just another sail in the sun, join BoatMexico. We will connect you with the intriguing Mexico — its adventures, its people, its music, food, and history. You may even find more of yourself!

You will find us online with our full websight and all of its fabulous features by middle to late June. Keep looking for us or drop us an email (admin@boatmexico.com) and we’ll let you know as soon as we’re online. Watch for special offers with our opening!

Where Are Fuel Prices & Boating Heading?

I remember when we thought we had high fuel prices. It was 1981. I was looking for a boat. Fuel prices had risen during the seventies. I was kicking around docks and listening to boaters tell me how sailboat prices had increased for two reasons, both of them fuel related. First: The demand was higher. Sailboats didn’t burn much fuel. The second reason hurt: sailboats were made of fiberglass and the price of resin was tied to the price of fuel. That meant that I could better afford to boat if I didn’t have to spend money on gas or diesel, but it also meant that I had to spend more for the boat.

That was 27 years ago. Boats cost about $1,000/foot then. I bought a new Cal-25 Mark II for $24,000 at the Atlanta Boat Show, put it on Lake Lanier, and sailed to my hearts content. Well, almost. You never quite get enough once you fall in love with boating.

Take a look at the following graph, provided courtesy of WTRG Economics, and you can see that we are in a similar situation to 1981 with regard to increase in the price of oil, but much worse and trending higher.

We all know that everybody thinks that boaters are wealthy people. Well, some are, but most of us just love being on the water and choose to put our “disposable” income into a boat rather than airline tickets, other vacations, fancier cars or homes. We subsequently have to pay more for our perceived wealth. To conveniently buy our boat accessories in specialty stores, we often pay literally 10 times more than charged in hardware or other stores.

Boaters who are spending millions to buy megayachts probably won’t flinch at the increase in fuel prices. The price of fuel to them is such a small part of their boating expenditure that it doesn’t impact them much. For the rest of us, it is an entirely different story.

What will happen to the price of boats? Boats are usually constructed of fiberglass and that requires resin. Spartech is a major supplier of resins to the marine industry. In November, 2007, this is what they had to say to their wholesale customers:

“Spartech Color & Specialty Compounds

Dear Valued Customer, November 30, 2007

As we move to the end of this year, more back to back price increases continue to be implemented and announced by our resin and raw material suppliers. Higher energy costs, high demand for exports, and higher operating costs are the reasons being sighted for these increases…“

Well, that sounds rather ominous for boat building prices. Their price increase announcements have occurred almost monthly since. Again, I remember the similar ominous conversations that occurred in boat cockpits in 1981.  All of the owners were talking about how glad they were to have already bought their sailboats.

What about the post production cost of transporting that little mini-yacht upon a gas-guzzling wide-load truck to your state? And what about all the fixed costs of the buildings and employees, and the other energy required to run businesses with high energy costs? The picture of the price of new boats looks rather grim. When demand goes down, the price doesn’t necessarily follow. With fewer units being sold, manufacturers still have to pay these expenses, regardless of whether they are selling one boat or a thousand boats. That can convert into higher prices for fewer boats sharing those costs. Undoubtedly, there will be more manufacturers who fail to make ends meet and have to close their doors.

What will the demand shift be between power and sailboats? On May 2, 2008, gas or diesel cost $4.49/gal at the dock in Shilshole Bay Marina, Seattle, Wa. Many power boats will easily burn 1 gal. or more per nautical mile. A typical sailboat that has to power along when it has no wind will still be able to burn only about a gal or less per hour. On our 41 foot sailboat, we will burn about 1 to 1.5 gal/hr and get about 7 or 8 miles, or about 4 to 6 mpg. That’s not really great, but it is 4 to 6 times better than the power yacht, and that is only when we must power. Otherwise, the sailboats are using the wind.

Alternative power can help cut the bill. Consider using wind and solar electric power too. A good set of batteries, a high output alternator, solar power, and a wind generator can cut the time you have to burn that expensive diesel. If you live in a sunny, windy area and plan well, you may be able to restrict your use of the engine to only that needed for infrequent motoring around anchorages and marinas.

New boat prices are already mast high, but there are lots of fine used sailboats on the market. They last a long time and rarely go to the “junk yard”.

It may not be 1981 anymore, but if you already own your sailboat you are probably a happy camper. If not, I would look for only higher prices. Demand will be impaired somewhat by the general hard times that most of us are feeling now, but new fiberglass boats can’t be built for anywhere near the same money with costs skyrocketing. Babyboomers are aging and aging boaters often make the switch to power. I wouldn’t look for such an impetus in these days.

Another fun way to cut costs is to bring your boat to Mexico. Fuel isn’t cheap here, but it’s about 1 to 1.50/gal cheaper than the states. It’s also sunny and with enough wind to sail. See ya soon, I hope.

BOATMEXICO WEBSITE UPDATE

I’m a little shy to say too much or promise too much about when software developers will complete their work. Those of you who have been waiting for us to open our true website understand what I mean. However, we believe that we have a good developer this time. Yesterday, we were told that our design and development is proceeding well and that we are still on target for a mid-Jun website opening. That is the best I can tell you. We will do everything we can to have our fabulous website ready for you to plan you sail into our 2008-2009 season.

The hurricane season is approaching us in Mexico now. Just a reminder to those of you who have your boats here, insurance companies will often not cover your loss if a hurricane strikes and you have not removed all of your sails and canvas. Check with your insurance company and be sure that you are in compliance with their requirements. Our home office is in Puerto Vallarta. If we can assist you in any way, please send an email to admin@boatmexico.com

Mothers are always special. In Mexico, Mother’s are more frequently reminded of their special place in the family. There are wonderful aspects to all cultures and this is one of the very beautiful characteristics of the Mexican culture.

For the formal celebration of Mother’s Day in Mexico, Dia de Madres is always celebrated on May 1oth, not on the second Sunday of May as in the United States. Grown children arrive to their mother’s home the night before and prepare for the holiday.

The celebration is also associated with the Virgin of Guadalupe, who is considered a symbol of motherhood. There is a special mass for Día de Madres, the highlight being the orchestra’s playing of “Las Mañanitas”. This song is also sung and/or played for other special occasions such as birthdays in Mexico as well. Unlike in the U.S., nearly all Mexicans have music in their Latin blood and enviably can carry a tune. Commonly, mom receives a live serenade. (See the lyrics to Las Mañanitas below.)

Mexican mothers commonly work 6 days per week outside of the home and then return home to wash clothes by hand, prepare meals, and care for the many children. Family is central to the culture and like everywhere mothers are what make families what they are.

We want to say to all of you wonderful mothers, wherever you may be this day, that we wish you a Feliz Día de Madres and thank you for all of the love, warmth, and peace that you bring to our lives.

LAS MAÑANITAS

Spanish Version

Estas son las mañanitas, que cantaba el Rey David,
Hoy por ser día de tu santo, te las cantamos a ti,
Despierta, mi bien, despierta, mira que ya amaneció,
Ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió.

Que linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte,
Venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte,
Ya viene amaneciendo, ya la luz del día nos dio,
Levántate de mañana, mira que ya amaneció.

English Version:
This is the morning song that King David sang
Because today is your saint’s day we’re singing it for you
Wake up, my dear, wake up, look it is already dawn
The birds are already singing and the moon has set

How lovely is the morning in which I come to greet you
We all came with joy and pleasure to congratulate you
The morning is coming now, the sun is giving us its light
Get up in the morning, look it is already dawn.

WEBSITE UPDATE:

Our website will be online within 60 days. BoatMexico.com will be the premiere website for boating in Mexico, whether you are cruising in a sailboat or powerboat or megayacht. After a substantial delay in our web design and development, we are preparing everything that we promised to have ready and lots more for our 2008 boating season. Look soon for us at www.boatmexico.com.

This blog will move to an associated web address upon our opening and www.boatmexico.com will become the primary address for our members website. BoatMexico is the website owned and operated by PVBoating S de RL, a Mexican corporation that legally founded, registered, and authorized to operate in Mexico. Be sure that the companies that you do business with are legally operated businesses. We are here to responsibly serve your interests. We are “Connecting Boaters in Mexico^®.”

Keywords: BoatMex ^® BoatMx ^® PVBoating ^® Cruising Mexico Boating Guide Puerto Vallarta Boating Yacht Clubs of Mexico Marinas Charter Rental Sailing Excursions Maintenance Medical Legal Immigration Safety Nautical Crew

When I first wrote back to the U.S. about Cinco deMayo in Mexico, I said that this holiday was more popular outside of Mexico than here. Well… that was before I went to rural Mexico for a real Cinco de Mayo. May is here and the boating season nearing its end before the start of hurricane season. This is a great time to explore inland.

Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s victory over the French in the Battle of Pueblo on May 5, 1862. While the holiday is principally celebrated in Pueblo, Mexico, the U.S. and other areas celebrate the holiday as a tribute to Mexican heritage and pride. In some of Mexico’s larger towns, this holiday is little more than an opportunity for kids to take a couple of vacation days from school and for restaurants to lure customers out for a pretty ordinary night’s dinner.

In Uzeta, Nayarit, Cinco de Mayo is an entirely different and exciting experience. Uzeta is a small pueblo, poor and typical of many rural pueblos. It sits a short distance from the beaten path between Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara on the old highway and easily bypassed, in fact not even noted as the traffic flows a few miles away on the more commonly used toll freeway. It is very near a large lava field that was formed from the 1870 - 1875 eruption of the now inactive volcano Ceboruco.

From May 1 through May 5, Uzeta’s small population (reportedly around 4,000 within 7 km) creates fireworks of a different order.

You will see marriages & baptisms occurring simultaneously in the church.

Just out the door, there are fun rides for the small children, fireworks, dancing to mariachis, and a rodeo with seats so close to the bucking bulls that spectators have to lift their feet to avoid injury.

If you want to sleep through the holidays, don’t come to Uzeta. Fireworks, gunshots (safely fired into the air), and music compete for airwaves throughout the nights.

On the other hand, if you want to see a Cinco de Mayo that gives you a glimpse of how a sleepy pueblo can create a terrific festive atmosphere, by all means come to Uzeta. However, you will have to find a hotel in neighboring Ahuatcatlan or Tepic; or drive 2.5 hours back to your boat in Puerto Vallarta. Uzeta has no overnight lodging.

Keywords: BoatMex ^® BoatMx ^® PVBoating ^® Cruising Mexico Boating Guide Puerto Vallarta Boating Yacht Clubs of Mexico Marinas Charter Rental Sailing Excursions Maintenance Medical Legal Immigration Safety Nautical Crew