Thanks for doing this. I apreciate it.
I answered your message, pal:
A boat with only 16 reais? It's kinda hard to find a boat for 16 reais.
Maybe you could rent a boat for 16 reais (maybe only 30min at maximum).
Do you want me to write the sentence in Portuguese (with slangs) or English?
Your story sounds interesting.
I'll research a bit, I'll answer you soon.
You can take a look at this page for more info about boat pricing:
http://www.viagensmaneiras.com/viagens/ilhagrande.htm
But I don't think you can buy a boat for only 16 reais. (around 6 or 7 bucks)
You can also visit Sonia's website for more english doubts, she's a certified language teacher and she's very nice and she likes to help people with doubts.
If you want a quick sentence, a brazilian would say:
How much for the boat?
Translation - a beginner in portuguese would say:
Quanto custa o barco?
A native would say (informal, not proper way):
Quanto quer pelo barco?
Tá 100 paus. (at slang way, it means "It's 100 reais")
But I stopped here because I don't know how would the american react, understand? I guess he would say "what?" or "I don't understand".
And first, tell me, the american guy speaks portuguese for how long?
If he's an expert, I would change the part below.
If you want him to continue, okay:
- Tá 100 paus. Said the man with the boat.
-100 paus? Said the american.
- Mas é um barco velho. (but that's an old boat)
- Aí o poblema não é meu. (Well, that's not my business or "I don't have nothing to do with it")
- Que tal 16 reais e um relógio de prata? (How about 16 reais and a silver Watch?)
- Fechado. (Done. Or "I take it/I accept it")
NOTE: In Brazil, people from cities like that, people that live in rivers don't care too much about money, but it is still impossible to find a boat for that price.
I INSIST, A BOAT FOR 16 REAIS IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
I READ YOU CAN RENT A BOAT FOR 16 AT MINIMUM.
SO YOU CAN'T BUY A BOAT FOR 16 REAIS