I would paarticularly like to hear from Nice N Easy. Wow is it true???? My wife is going to retire with 30 years and we are thinking about where to live. Our boat is up in Northern Alabama and we like Wheeler Lake. But lakes are small and the ocean is large. So we have bounced around the ideal of moving the boat to Mobile. We kept her on the coast for 2 1/2 years 9 months at Dog River in Mobile bay and the rest over at Panama City,FL. Mobile Bay water is dirty compared to Panama city but we think that it would be cheaper to live in Mobile and keep the boat at Dog River or Fairhope. But we aren't tied to any one place. But the slip fees seem to increase as you move towards Florida. Ideally we would like a smaller condo near our slip. I don't care to live right next to the slip but within a 5-10 mile radius. It would really suck to have a hurricane destroy condo and boat at the same time!!!! Up a river a few miles would not be bad as long as we have access to big water. Any suggestions???? We have not ruled out Florida but the last time we checked we could get a slip at Dog River for a little over $200/month and at Pensacola they wanted over $300. retirement means more time but less money.
Living Near Mobile Alabama
- Thread starter MoonSailer
- Start date
- Status
Moon Sailer
Your right about the water quality while moving east. But, with that said, there is some pretty nice water and anchorages around Ship, Horn and PetitBois islands. Almost every evening you get a dolphin show at any of the three, The east end of Dauphin is as bad as Mobile Bay, as far as water quaity is concerned. From Mobile bay, the islands mentioned make a pretty nice weekend trip. The east end of Mobile bay is pretty shallow, and you are basically limited to the ICW. The rest of the bay has enough water to not worry, but quite a bit of traffic. I would be more concerned about hurricane protection than water quality. I live in a subdivision in Slidell, on a canal. My boat survived Katrina just fine, anchored in the center of the canal. The marina around the corner from me was more exposed and totally destroyed, along with most of the boats, and the apts./condos there. TonyB had his boat there and lost it. Almost all of the marinas along this part of the coast make you move your boat out if a major storm is coming, so that should also be considered. Marinas over this way are quite a bit cheaper, but are not nearly as nice as what you will find over in the Panama City area. The general opinion now seems to be that floating docks are nice, but not a good thing during a major storm. Most of the destroyed boats here were a result of the floating docks going above the pilings, and everything ending up in a big pile. And, as a final consideration, east of Pensacola, you can't do the ICW if your mast is over 50'. With the exception of Port St.Joe to Appalachicola. Other than that, you have to run offshore. There are quite a few boats in the area, and some damn fine people. If you have any more questions that I might help with, just drop me an email and I will do my best to help in any way I can.
Your right about the water quality while moving east. But, with that said, there is some pretty nice water and anchorages around Ship, Horn and PetitBois islands. Almost every evening you get a dolphin show at any of the three, The east end of Dauphin is as bad as Mobile Bay, as far as water quaity is concerned. From Mobile bay, the islands mentioned make a pretty nice weekend trip. The east end of Mobile bay is pretty shallow, and you are basically limited to the ICW. The rest of the bay has enough water to not worry, but quite a bit of traffic. I would be more concerned about hurricane protection than water quality. I live in a subdivision in Slidell, on a canal. My boat survived Katrina just fine, anchored in the center of the canal. The marina around the corner from me was more exposed and totally destroyed, along with most of the boats, and the apts./condos there. TonyB had his boat there and lost it. Almost all of the marinas along this part of the coast make you move your boat out if a major storm is coming, so that should also be considered. Marinas over this way are quite a bit cheaper, but are not nearly as nice as what you will find over in the Panama City area. The general opinion now seems to be that floating docks are nice, but not a good thing during a major storm. Most of the destroyed boats here were a result of the floating docks going above the pilings, and everything ending up in a big pile. And, as a final consideration, east of Pensacola, you can't do the ICW if your mast is over 50'. With the exception of Port St.Joe to Appalachicola. Other than that, you have to run offshore. There are quite a few boats in the area, and some damn fine people. If you have any more questions that I might help with, just drop me an email and I will do my best to help in any way I can.
living near mobile
Turner marine has some nice new docks. " rebuilt after destruction from Katrina ". My boat is across the bay in Fairhope. From Most anywhere in Mobile its a 30 - 45 minute drive. Have you concidered living on the eastern shore? Slip fee's run around $7.00 to $8.00 a ft per month with shore power and water. Fly creek is very well protected from hurricanes. Eastern shore marina has a lease agreement that requires you remove your boat in case of storms. If not they will move it for you and drop a hook in mobile bay. Most likely charging you for a captain / boat to tow it out , and maybe an anchor and rode. Not my cup of tea. Fly creek has no such agreement. I think Turner also requires you to move your boat. Also Fly creek haul out fee is $75.00 out and back in. Marina is fed by fresh water streams making haul outs/ bottom jobs less frequent than others in salt water. lemme lknow oif i can help. Captain Charles Creel S/V Jacobs Dream
Turner marine has some nice new docks. " rebuilt after destruction from Katrina ". My boat is across the bay in Fairhope. From Most anywhere in Mobile its a 30 - 45 minute drive. Have you concidered living on the eastern shore? Slip fee's run around $7.00 to $8.00 a ft per month with shore power and water. Fly creek is very well protected from hurricanes. Eastern shore marina has a lease agreement that requires you remove your boat in case of storms. If not they will move it for you and drop a hook in mobile bay. Most likely charging you for a captain / boat to tow it out , and maybe an anchor and rode. Not my cup of tea. Fly creek has no such agreement. I think Turner also requires you to move your boat. Also Fly creek haul out fee is $75.00 out and back in. Marina is fed by fresh water streams making haul outs/ bottom jobs less frequent than others in salt water. lemme lknow oif i can help. Captain Charles Creel S/V Jacobs Dream
Be sure to look into ...
Homeowner's insurance while you're looking at places to live. At many locations around the Gulf Coast these days it's very difficult to get a policy from a major carrier. You wind up with state-sponsored "insurance of last resort." Not pretty & not cheap.
Homeowner's insurance while you're looking at places to live. At many locations around the Gulf Coast these days it's very difficult to get a policy from a major carrier. You wind up with state-sponsored "insurance of last resort." Not pretty & not cheap.
- Status