Contemplating retirement with the Admiral which is a few years away. Will probably stay in Illinois but would love to have that second place to live now and then (such as Jan. to March mainly). Not sure we want to committ to buying a condo. I have thought of buying a good size sailboat (40 - 50 ft range) and living on that for a month or 3 out of every year. Just wondering if any of you snowbirds do this now? What is appealing is the fact that you could move your home now and then when you got tired of the location. We have been to Charleston and this seems like a great place to start but Florida gulf coat sounds good too. Right now I maintain a boat for no more than 5 month use per year. Why not another boat down south for another 5 months? Anyone else do this?
Retirement: boat or condo?
- Thread starter Pat T
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We have a home in Canada and bought a boat in Florida to use in the winter months. We downsized the boat up north to a Wayfarer 
. I like to do all my own work and I felt two boats would be too much, I have other hobbies and things I like to do too. The only advantage I could see to a condo is that you could rent it out easily, or let friends use it if you were only using it for a month or two. As far as the gulf coast is concerned, all of the water in Florida is thin, more so on the west coast. Be aware of it and buy a boat with that draft in mind if that will be your cruising area.
Enjoy life, this is not a rehearsal ! Bob
. I like to do all my own work and I felt two boats would be too much, I have other hobbies and things I like to do too. The only advantage I could see to a condo is that you could rent it out easily, or let friends use it if you were only using it for a month or two. As far as the gulf coast is concerned, all of the water in Florida is thin, more so on the west coast. Be aware of it and buy a boat with that draft in mind if that will be your cruising area.Enjoy life, this is not a rehearsal ! Bob
If you are intending it primarily as a second home, the choice is between a depreciating asset and an appreciating one (particularly now) when the housing market in Fl is increasing.
If you want to live aboard, Fl is one of the most expensive places to do that.
If money is a secondary consideration and you think this is a great place for boating in winter, I think it rained here last month for a few minutes so welcome to the stampede.
If you want to live aboard, Fl is one of the most expensive places to do that.
If money is a secondary consideration and you think this is a great place for boating in winter, I think it rained here last month for a few minutes so welcome to the stampede.
I'm always checking out Southwinds magazine & there are places on the west coast
that a slip in what looks like pretty decent marinas costs $2,200.00 a year for a 30' boat. My inlaws had a nice place in Fort Meyers, they couldn't rent them in the off season to offset expensives. I have heard that the storm surge in Tampa Bay could become a problem if a hurricane comes in off the gulf so pick you poison carefully.
that a slip in what looks like pretty decent marinas costs $2,200.00 a year for a 30' boat. My inlaws had a nice place in Fort Meyers, they couldn't rent them in the off season to offset expensives. I have heard that the storm surge in Tampa Bay could become a problem if a hurricane comes in off the gulf so pick you poison carefully.
If you're only using it 5 months a year anyway, why not just cruise the Catalina down the rivers to the Gulf of Mexico, and buy a smaller boat for the 'up north' house?
Give second thoughts to a Condo. We have had a Condo in FL (East Coast) for 24 Years now. The Condo Commandos will drive you nuts. They are only a few percent of the owners at a condo complex, but they gravitate to Boards and some of them want to control too much. If I had it to do all over again, I would probably opt for a house in FL rather than a condo, and with a boat near by in a marina. But, owning a house has it's drawbacks too. You have more maintenance to do on it than on a condo. Decisions, decisions, always decisions.
I think your on the money when you mentioned the idea of moving your house (boat) if you didn't like the location.
Well it's a big world! You don't have to restrict your self to any one area or country.
Why not lease the boat out while you are away? It will pay for it and your time on it. There are company's that look after all that for you too.
Well it's a big world! You don't have to restrict your self to any one area or country.
Why not lease the boat out while you are away? It will pay for it and your time on it. There are company's that look after all that for you too.
if youre thinking of the snow bird life, consider this.. my parents moved from north
NJ down to north miami beach . when they got there they bought a condo/ townhouse with a dock right outside the back door.. gated community.. not a bad set up.. my thought??rather than getting a 45'er , get a condo with water access and a 20 something.. they are giving condos away right now for penny's.. and the water is so shallow I think youll find a larger boat to limit you .. I checked some of the sailing clubs down there and was surprised to find that most people owned in the 27'-32' range ..the larger the boat ..the deeper the draft
NJ down to north miami beach . when they got there they bought a condo/ townhouse with a dock right outside the back door.. gated community.. not a bad set up.. my thought??rather than getting a 45'er , get a condo with water access and a 20 something.. they are giving condos away right now for penny's.. and the water is so shallow I think youll find a larger boat to limit you .. I checked some of the sailing clubs down there and was surprised to find that most people owned in the 27'-32' range ..the larger the boat ..the deeper the draft
Let me suggest another alternative. Why not rent a condo for 2-3 months each year. This will cost not much more than the maintenance fees if you buy. Moving to Florida is very enticing, especially in the winter months but I think there are some negatives. Leaving family behind, especially grand kids if any. Also medical care can be very frustrating, especially if you are a snowbird. Getting sick without a good support system nearby is burdensome on your family (have experienced this all too often). The temptation to buy is great but do you really know if you will like it. Try a test drive.
As far as living on a boat that can get very old if you are not used to it. Also, it seems you see a lot of sailboats motoring rather than sailing. I would think about a trawler if I was going to live aboard. You can always join a sailing club if you need a fix.
The route I would take would be to rent a condo and join a sailing club to see if you like it before taking the big plunge.
Good luck no matter what you decide. Retirement can be a wonderful life event and enjoy it to the fullest.
As far as living on a boat that can get very old if you are not used to it. Also, it seems you see a lot of sailboats motoring rather than sailing. I would think about a trawler if I was going to live aboard. You can always join a sailing club if you need a fix.
The route I would take would be to rent a condo and join a sailing club to see if you like it before taking the big plunge.
Good luck no matter what you decide. Retirement can be a wonderful life event and enjoy it to the fullest.
I third the rent comment! for Florida as the saying goes you pay to live in paradise and pay and pay! till you go home and every one dose sooner or later!
You have no worries, if you do your home work drive down and check it out the rentals FIRST!! TAKE NO ONES WORD NO ONES!!!!! so many GREAT Places to stay at and rates CHEAP!
We love the Cedar Key area a small Key north of all the crazy's and snow birds if we need a dose of insanity we drive a few hours south and get it!
To have a boat stored its going to have to be on the hard as in the water as said rates are $$$$ , and long distance nightmares are common as I deal with this for my snow bird owners daily! in Florida that is,,
SC not sure I am not a fan and not that I haven't seen lots of coastal areas with some very dear friend's living on Seabrook Island just a click south of Charleston its not my cup of tea as folks say its the next big boom state? I don't think in my life time !
good luck
You have no worries, if you do your home work drive down and check it out the rentals FIRST!! TAKE NO ONES WORD NO ONES!!!!! so many GREAT Places to stay at and rates CHEAP!
We love the Cedar Key area a small Key north of all the crazy's and snow birds if we need a dose of insanity we drive a few hours south and get it!
To have a boat stored its going to have to be on the hard as in the water as said rates are $$$$ , and long distance nightmares are common as I deal with this for my snow bird owners daily! in Florida that is,,
SC not sure I am not a fan and not that I haven't seen lots of coastal areas with some very dear friend's living on Seabrook Island just a click south of Charleston its not my cup of tea as folks say its the next big boom state? I don't think in my life time !
good luck
There are tons and tons of boats for sale on CL all along the gulf, within all sizes and price ranges anyone desires or can afford. A guy could buy a beater, use it a while, and dump it cheap if need be to change directions, without ever being tied into a condo or a house or anything on land.
Like this?
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/boa/3618902675.html
Like this?
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/boa/3618902675.html
It's all about perception:
In many ways, boats are like condos; some just a lot smaller.
Speaking of cheap boats you can live aboard, whats the general opinion of Morgans? From what I read they are tough old boats that are very roomy but dont sail upwind too well, but can take a beating. There are always some 34's or OI's around under $10K, are they worth a look?
But you cant just pack up and take a condo with you when the scenery/neighborhood starts to suck.
We had the dream of living on the boat and selling everything. When say we I mean me 'cuz the admiral said no way. She needed a home base. Reluctantly we bought a condo in Florida 12 years ago with the boat in a canal in the back. It was the best idea ever. We have made tons of friends in the sailing community and entertain frequently. Kind of hard to have a dinner party on a boat. Not impossible but having some roots made sense for us.
The idea of renting is brilliant. You can store you boat on the hard in the off season and move around until from community to community until you find the place where you fit in.
The idea of renting is brilliant. You can store you boat on the hard in the off season and move around until from community to community until you find the place where you fit in.
I don't think 3 months use a year is enough to justify owning it. make it 5-6 months and it makes sense.
and I would rent slips, and a condo/house.
Wind Storm insurance is crazy $ and its been run by Citizens Ins, which is backed by the state.... aka fannie mae. if we get 2 big ones in a year the state could go under. you don't want to have to pay those rates if they stop subsidizing the rates. no one will.
and I would rent slips, and a condo/house.
Wind Storm insurance is crazy $ and its been run by Citizens Ins, which is backed by the state.... aka fannie mae. if we get 2 big ones in a year the state could go under. you don't want to have to pay those rates if they stop subsidizing the rates. no one will.
condominium drawbacks
Many people invest in housing specially in condo. Condominiums, or condos as individuals call them, offer all the benefits of living in apartments with all the advantages of home ownership. No yard work is needed. However, there are some significant condominium disadvantages an individual should have in mind before buying.
Many people invest in housing specially in condo. Condominiums, or condos as individuals call them, offer all the benefits of living in apartments with all the advantages of home ownership. No yard work is needed. However, there are some significant condominium disadvantages an individual should have in mind before buying.
We recently looked at condos on the gulf coast in Venice Fl. Our plan was to use it some and rent it out as much as possible. My C-320 has a fin keel so there was no thought of moving it down there. Right before we pulled the trigger and bought the condo, my concern about the numerous condo rules (no pets in particular) and type of folks that want to be on condo boards worried me enough that we had the realtor show us some houses. We ended up with a nice 2 bdrm 2 bth house with backyard pool, pet friendly privacy fence and beautiful landscaping. We closed on it in April, spent 3 weeks furnishing it/vacationing , and have rental contracts for Nov, Jan, and Feb.
We're going back for a vacation in Sept. If you are interested in renting something while you decide, let me know and I'll furnish contact info.
Bill
We're going back for a vacation in Sept. If you are interested in renting something while you decide, let me know and I'll furnish contact info.
Bill
Numbers of folks here on LI buy motorhomes and migrate south in them for the winter. And then bring them north for the summer. They'll usually have property in both locales and the necessary hook ups. There's nothing wrong with getting out of dodge when a storm comes by either. Just saying ...
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