The Product
Preface:
This page presents arguments that the "Product" provided by Panama Adventure Tours will be far "superior" to that provided by Powerboat Adventures and most other marine oriented tours. This begs the questions - why should this be? Are the founders of Panama Adventure Tours that much more talented and knowledgeable than their counterparts - in most other marine tours?
The answer is No - it is just that we have different goals - in that, our goals are broader and more general. The snorkeling /booze crooze operator's goal is to cram as many people as possible onto his boat - ensure that none of them drown - get them as "merry" as possible and reap as much profits as possible. The sport fishing operator's goal is to provide his guests with the most fishing "action" as possible - likewise for diving, kayaking or other similar operations.
Panama Adventure Tour's goal, as is presumably the case for a small inn, lodge or B & B, is quite simply to make their guest's stay as pleasant and enjoyable as possible. In a B & B operation, a significant investment, of imagination, thought, work and money, goes into a large number and variety of different aspects to the operation. These efforts are aimed at providing the facilities, the service and the ambience - which together contribute to the achievement of their goal. The same applies to Panama Adventure Tours.
Unfortunately, for the proprietors of a small inn or B & B, there are probably dozens of proprietors of similar establishments - in the same area - pursuing the same goal - with an equal degree of enthusiasm and diligence. Equally unfortunately, there are countless more such operations worldwide - including the floating variety of
B & B - namely, a typical charter yacht.
Luckily for Panama Adventure Tours, there are very few, if any, marine tour operators pursuing the same goal they are - in the immediate area - nor,it would seem, any more than a handful, anywhere on the planet. Consequently, it does not require great talent, on our part, to surpass the, virtually, non existent competition. All that is required is the right boat (very, very important) a bit of imagination and a bit of hard work - in this case, 50 years or so of the latter.
Fortunately or unfortunately (it depends on your perspective) for Panama Adventure Tours, at this time, there is only one "right boat" on the planet. This boat Grand Illusion belongs to us and is currently sitting in a shed in Margarita Venezuela. This begs the same questions posed at the top of this page - namely, why should this be? etc etc..
The answer is exactly the same. No, we are not more talented than other designers builders of boats - we simply have different goals. Grand Illusion is a "very different breed of cat" - purpose designed and built - for a very different type of operation. If one is interested in the details (and has a few hours, days, weeks or months to spend) the explanations for this prevailing circumstance are available on the relevant links at the bottom of this page.
It cannot be be overstressed that Panama Adventures Tours (the operation) is also a "very different breed of cat". Yes, our guests may enjoy a bit of fishing or kayaking or snorkeling - or a cocktail or two - or a tasty seafood lunch - with us. However, none of these are the focus of our tours. Our goal is simply that the time which our guests spend with us (whether a day, a weekend or a week) is comfortable, pleasant, enjoyable, authentic, exciting, exhilarating - and, most important of all, virtually never, ever boring, contrived and predictable.
Powerboat Adventures:
It is probably advantageous to break down "The Product" into 3 components - much as one might do in reviewing a restaurant. In the case of a restaurant, these would be: the ambience, the meal, and the service. In the case of adventure tours, these would be the destination, the adventures, and the service.
The Exuma Cays (the archipelago, in which Ship Channel Cay - the destination of Powerboat Adventures is located) is a wonderful example of a the typical Bahamas "out islands". Crystal clear seas provide a many colored underwater tapestry composed of every hue of blue and green in the universe. The beaches are snow white and powdery and there are plenty of coral reefs.
Ship Channel Cay, itself, is the usual low, rocky, dry, scrub covered "Bahamas out island" - with very little larger animal life, but plenty of insect life - including mosquitos and "no see ums" - which fortunately, usually, only present a problem from dusk to dawn. These island are poles apart from the classical picture (which many harbor in their minds) of a "Lush Island Paradise" - with streams, waterfalls, and fantastic assortments of animal and plant life. Robinson Crusoe would definitely not have survived very long on any of these desert like "Bahamas out islands".
Powerboat Adventures have built a very pleasant rustic pavilion on the rocky point overlooking the beach - with plenty of (much needed) shade, bar, dining area and bathroom facilities. This facility is essential as, clearly, the only possible function, which the boats are capable of serving, is that of transport. Strangely enough, despite a plethora of complaints in the online reviews, there are apparently still no shade structures and seating facilities on the beach itself - more about that later.
The beach on Ship Channel Cay (like virtually every beach in the Bahamas) is quite nice and there are some rather scruffy reefs nearby with a few fish. One problem is that, very often (depending on the state of the tide) there are very strong currents in the channels between all these small cays - which can present some problems in regard to snorkeling.
The main drawback, in regard to Powerboat Adventures' destination, is not really a drawback as such. It is simply the fact that there are many nicer beaches and much more luxuriant coral formations (without the strong currents) on Rose Island - just a few miles across the harbor from Nassau itself. There are hundreds of tours which will take you there for the day - for substantially less than half the price of the Powerboat Adventures tour.
On the other hand, Ship Channel Cay has one very important plus - namely that it is fairly remote. The importance of this factor cannot be overstated - in regard to these type of tours. This remoteness (besides getting away from the incessant jet skis around Nassau) provides an important psychological factor - which tends to encourage small groups of people to mesh in a very pleasant manner. A group of 50 odd people is probably a bit too many to take full advantage of this factor. Nonetheless, it will still have a positive effect on the overall ambience of the tour.
Ship channel Cay is about 30 miles from Nassau - over the shallow sand banks. Sea conditions on these banks can vary from flat calm to a very nasty short chop - in a hurry - very often - from one day to another - and even one hour to another. When the seas do build up on these shallow banks, they are generally perfectly sized to make travel in a 40 ft go fast powerboat very stressful indeed. The roughly 1 hour trip across this bank serves as the "appetizer" for the "main adventure course" - which you have shelled out the big bucks for.
There is probably a 50% chance that sea conditions will be such - that those, who have never been on a large powerful "go fast" boat before, will find the ride exciting and enjoyable. On the other hand, those (such as the crew) who have ridden on such boats too many times to count, will find the ride to be the same old crowded, cramped, uncomfortable, really noisy, jarring, boring experience that it was the last time around.
After low lying Nassau disappears rapidly astern, there is nothing much to see on the trip except the same featureless sand bottom 20 - 30 ft below the bottom of the boat. Conversation is impossible - without shouting directly into each others' ear - and, in most sea conditions, putting a beer bottle or a soda can to ones' mouth risks a bloody lip or a chipped tooth.
Clearly, seeing as these tours are canceled roughly 50% of the time - due to unsuitable weather conditions (entailing a loss of revenues to Powerboat Adventures of up to $10,000 U.S.) there is a strong incentive for the operators to "push the envelope" in regard to the criteria for "suitable weather conditions".
That being the case, it is only natural to expect that a significant percentage of these tours will be run in weather conditions that are indeed "pushing the envelope". In these situations, both experienced and inexperienced persons aboard will probably agree that the "exciting ride", which Powerboat Adventures promised, is closer to "sheer torture" than "excitement". Many of the inexperienced will probably also harbor a significant degree of "sheer terror".
There is another aspect of discomfort one may encounter on your exciting powerboat ride - which one would not normally associate with the Bahamas. This is that, on occasion, not only can the ride be very wet from all the spray but also very cold. Most people are not aware (surprise! surprise!) that, in the winter months, air temperatures, in the Bahamas, around 60 deg. F. are not all that unusual and even 50 deg. F. is not unheard of. Combining these temperatures with a fair bit of spray and 30 - 40 knots of apparent wind means "cold" - in anybody's language.
Even at the best of times, whether one is seated close to the stern (with ones' ears a couple of feet away from 1000 screaming horsepower) or close to the bow - experiencing the full force of the constant bone jarring impacts and accelerations, one will immediately realize that this is not the "Gentle harmonious eco tour" which you may have thought you signed on for.
After arriving at the first stop of Allen's Cay, where the Iguanas are fed (hopefully without any biting incidents) one gets to enjoy the high point of the tour. This is the 10 minute, high speed, twisting ride through numerous small cay's in perfectly calm seas to the final destination - Ship Channel Cay
It is noteworthy (and quite amusing) that Powerboat Adventures actually tries to market these trips as an "eco tour". How on earth can you tout transporting fifty people with a total of 3,000 horsepower - as an"eco tour"? That comes out to 60 horsepower per passenger - definitely a tad more than a kayak - and 6 times the horsepower / passenger ratio of Panama Adventure Tours
This appellation is apparently preferred by Powerboat Adventures over "snorkeling / booze crooze" which is, clearly, the closest description of their tours - with a fast power boat ride and feeding a few iguanas thrown in. The product which Powerboat Adventures offers is, in fact, an extremely well promoted and marketed, very well run, upscale "snorkeling /booze crooze".
Once at the destination, there is the (now universally obligatory - and apparently oblivious to the fate of Steve Irwin and many other less well known individuals) "feeding and swimming with the sharks and stingrays" and (unique to Powerboat Adventures) "getting the feral pigs drunk". In practice however, the "main adventure course" on Powerboat Adventures tour turns out to be lunch. By most accounts, this is quite good (although there are a few strident dissenters) - but reports are that it is exactly the same - day after day - month after month - and year after year.
For "the desert course" there is the ride back to Nassau - which is likely to provide a rather jarring finale to the "adventure meal" - which may not sit too well on top of a large lunch and perhaps a bit too many visits to the "open bar". There is no question that the main asset of Powerboat Adventures is the service. The crew (with the aid of the aforesaid open bar) is very very good good at faking it and putting a new, exciting, and energetic face on an old, boring, and tired "booze crooze".
There is no question that that in online reviews, such as those on TripAdviser Powerboat Adventures receives a very high percentage of, what only can be described as, "rave reviews". There are also a very small percentage of extremely negative reviews, but mediocre reviews are virtually non existent. It is only natural to wonder why this should be the case.
At $200.00 U.S. per person, Powerboat Adventures is a fairly expensive day tour - even for the Bahamas. The great majority of day tours in the Bahamas are considerably less than half this price. Let us assume that you have shelled out $800.00 U:S for you, your spouse and your 2 teen age children to go on this tour, Let us also assume that your original trip was canceled due to weather (the odds are about even for this happening) and that you have rearranged your vacation plans to go on this particular trip. Naturally, you have a strong vested interest in the tour being an exceptionally rewarding experience.
Having, presumably, read all the "rave review" (both from previous guests and "Renowned travel critics") you are already "halfway there" to sharing their opinion. Once embarked on the tour, you are in the company of perhaps up to 50 fellow guests who share the same vested interest - plus you are in the care of a very skilled and talented crew - who are armed with wonderful open, smiling "Island Charm" and "the ultimate weapon - the open bar".
Face it, whatever negative thoughts about the tour, which might stray into your mind, are quickly overwhelmed by all the powerful forces - insisting that "The Emperor is wearing the finest set of clothes the world has ever seen". It is only the very rare child (or the, equally rare, really pissed off guest) who will insist - not that the clothes are, maybe, not quite as wonderful as they are cracked up to be - but that, in fact, "The Emperor is as naked as the day that he was born!".
Another factor which may contribute to what one might tend to label "a clear cut case of group insanity" is that the Exuma Cays have always had a very special place in the hearts and minds of all "Nassuvians". For generations, this has been the place one escaped to - to get away from all the problems associated with Nassau - to get back to the simple life - "eat some conch", and "drink some rum" and enjoy the company of your friends. This feeling of well being, associated with the Exuma Cays, is in the "genes" of the crew and staff and it would be surprising if some portion, of this surfeit of good will, did not rub off on the guests.
In the end, the strange composition of the online reviews, can perhaps, be best be filed away as just another example of the phenomena (of mass insanity) currently referred to as "Branding" - which so pervades our culture today and has probably, in one form ar another, pervaded cultures for thousands of years.
Whether one is forking out 400 dollars for a couple of tickets on a "Powerboat Adventures" tour - or 4,000 dollars for a "Gucci" handbag - or 400,000 dollars for a "Rolex" watch - or 150 million dollars for a "Jackson Pollock" painting - or blowing someone's head off for a pair of "Michael Jordan" sneakers - or blowing up oneself - - along with hundreds of others for a one way ticket to "Jihad" paradise - all these actions can be attributed to the incredible power of "Branding".
There is, clearly, an inherent risk in utilizing a very successful "Branding" campaign to demand and get ridiculously high prices for one's "Products". For instance, if one has forked over $400,000.00 for the above mentioned "Rolex" watch (instead of $9.99 for a watch - which performs the same function equally as well) the "Rolex" watch had better tell the correct time - or the customer is likely to get really really pissed off.
Just so we are on the same page, let us define "Branding", for the purpose of this comparison, as the strategy and process of increasing the demand for a product - not by increasing the usefulness or effectiveness of the product - but by directly increasing the recognition and popularity or status of the name or "Brand" - in other words, focusing on "Image over Substance" or "Packaging over Content". All of the above probably contribute to some some degree to the rather curious mix of online reviews.
To close on a more positive note, there is no question that, with favorable weather and sea conditions, a trip with Powerboat Adventures can provide a perfectly pleasant way to spend a day - socializing - with a small group of equally fortunate fellow guests and very pleasant and charming crew and staff - on a very exclusive private island. With a few "Piña Coladas" or "Bahama Mamas" under your belt, who cares if the ride was "a bit bumpy" and "the adventures" did not turn out to be quite up to what you had expected?
Panama Adventure Tours
Clearly in regard to "Branding", at this point in time, our operation is a big fat zero. As such - our only options are to, somehow, miraculously acquire this "magical power" - or to hope that there are a few rational, imaginative, adventurous, bold, and courageous persons out there somewhere - willing to judge our product on it's merits. In fact, the last 4 descriptive words are redundant - seeing as being "rational" necessitates being imaginative, adventurous, courageous and bold.
So there you go - all we need are a few rational persons to take an interest (financial and other wise) in our operation. No problem - right? That is what I thought - some 50 years ago. Wrong!! big, big problem. Such persons are few and far between. However, all we can do is to keep working on improving our "Product" and hope that they show up some time.
As to our destination, "Robinson Crusoe" would have no problem living to a ripe old age on any of the islands in our destination area. These are indeed your classic "Lush Tropical Island Paradises". In fact, were he (Robinson Crusoe) fortunate enough to come across a "Woman Friday" they would have no trouble creating a whole tribe of "Crusoes" - in this veritable "Garden of Eden". On our tours, we will not be confined to any one of these islands. We will be free to pick and choose between all of them - on any given day. Grand Illusion will provide all we need in the way of shelter and "mod cons".
No doubt, the clarity of the water in the Gulf of Chiriqui is not quite up to Bahamas standards. That is because it is alive with nutrients and tiny organisms - which serve as the building blocks for one of the richest, most diverse marine eco systems on the planet - which happens to encompass the second most extensive coral reef system in the Eastern Pacific. On land and in the sea, our destination is a lush, mysterious "Garden of Eden" - not a starkly beautiful - but sterile, dry, sun baked wilderness.
A significant portion of our tours will also be spent cruising through the mangrove estuaries - which in itself is a wonderful, lush, interesting, mysterious and diverse environment. Most dramatically, perhaps, is that Panama Adventure Tours takes you from a wonderful cool highland environment to an equally wonderful but entirely different tropical island environment. This is totally unlike the case with Powerboat Adventures - which (in terms of the natural environment) takes you from one environment to a virtually identical one.
As far as the journey itself goes, there is absolutely no comparison. Cruising on Grand Illusion will be quite simply one of the finest, most enjoyable activities one can imagine. Unlike (as is very often the case with Powerboat Adventures - wherein you are hanging on for dear life - praying that you will soon get to your destination) with Panama Adventure Tours, you will be wishing the trip would go on forever.
While Grand Illusion will be capable of cruising at 20 knots, for the most part we will be keeping our speed down to around 15 knots - a speed that is just right
for comfortable lounging and checking out the unfolding natural tapestry - without the wind bringing tears to your eyes. This speed also happens to be just right for high speed trolling.
Other than cruising at half the speed of Powerboat Adventures boats (if this is considered a negative) there is absolutely no aspect, of the cruising part of our tours, which will not surpass Powerboat Adventures - in every possible criteria - by a ridiculously large margin. This most definitely includes adrenalin charged moments.
The differences, in this regard, are - firstly, that, with Panama Adventure Tours, these moments will only last 5 or 10 minutes - as we enter and leave the estuary through the ofttimes breaking surf on the entrance bar. This is just about the right time period for a good adrenalin rush. A solid hour is definitely too much! Secondly, there is no chance, whatsoever, of these moments causing jarring unpleasant impacts - far less actual physical pain or injury.
The rest of our cruising, while still exciting and exhilarating, will be incredibly comfortable - an entire universe apart from Powerboat Adventures. Far from worrying about chipping a tooth on a bottle of beer you will be able to enjoy a "cucumber sandwich and a cup of tea in a delicate porcelain cup" - while cruising with Panama Adventure Tours. You will also find innumerable "sweet spots" aboard to stretch out and relax - on your "Magic Carpet Ride".
Our cruising will also be an entire universe apart - in regard to the delightful ever changing vistas, for the eyes and soul, which will be constantly unfolding before us - both above water and below. With the prevailing calm wind conditions in our cruising area (particularly in the mornings) the glassy surface of the sea will reveal a mysterious, diverse world of wonder in the clear waters below - particularly from the vantage point of the top deck - 12 ft above the sea surface.
For a detailed info on the diverse adventures, which will be available on out tours, please click on the following links:
All of these activities, besides providing a wide variety of choices as a group, will also provide a wide variety of options individually.
On top of this variety, our "Product" encompasses the options of 4 entirely different tours - linked below:
There is one further aspect of both "Products" that, while rather obtuse and difficult to quantify, nonetheless, has a very substantial effect on the effectiveness and quality of the "Product". Those with a passing acquaintance with Physics will, perhaps, recall that an object is always effected, to some extent, by the observer.
It would appear that the observers are also very much effected by the "the object" or their environment. Human beings are clearly a very adaptable and malleable species and, like a chameleon, change dramatically - in accord with their environment, The exact same individuals will behave substantially differently - depending on whether they are attending a church picnic or a football riot.
The guest and crew, on a tour, inevitably becomes an intrinsic part of the "Product" and their reaction to the environment provided on the tour - and consequent behavioral changes (negative or positive) will have a direct effect on the tour itself. Much thought has gone into ensuring that Panama Adventure Tours tend to bring out the most positive behavioral aspects in the participants - thereby creating a more enjoyable "Product" - which tend to encourage more positive behavior - thereby creating a more enjoyable "Product" etc. etc.
Summing up, the simple fact is that when comparing Powerboat Adventures "Product" with Panama Adventure Tours "Product" there is simply no contest. The vast majority of independent critics will, no doubt, judge that Panama Adventure Tours offers a far more enjoyable "Product" than Powerboat Adventures -- except for one small detail ---- Panama Adventure Tours' "Product" does not yet exist. There's always a catch - hopefully, this tiny problem will be remedied in the very near future.
Private charters
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Powerboat Adventures (Bahamas) vs. Panama Adventure Tours
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Powerboat Adventures (Bahamas) vs. Panama Adventure Tours
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Links to provisional web pages for Panama Adventure Tours
Powerboat Adventures (Bahamas) vs. Panama Adventure Tours
* Rupert Holmes - "Escape" - better known as "The Piña Colada Song".
trading as:
Powerboat Adventures vs. Panama Adventure Tours vs. Powerboat Adventures
Panama Adventure Tours is not yet open for business.
Projected start up - Nov. 2010. This web site is currently just a rough draft.
However, "If you like Piña Coladas - - - and you have half a brain"*
- plus a nodding acquaintance with the English language,
you may find the current content interesting and remarkably rewarding - - - approximately 100% rewarding.
This particularly applies to those who live, work, play and / or own / operate a tourism related business in:
Chiriqui, Panama - or Panama City, Panama - or San Jose, Costa Rica - or would like to.
