This is directed at people who live aboard their boats, basing them in the New England area in the summer, and in Florida in the winter, using the seasons in between to move up and down the Atlantic coast. Given the trends to make marinas into water-side condos and private homes, is it still possible to live the snowbird lifestyle, or is that lifestyle being crowded out? If you do live it, are you forced to live on the hook all the time, rather than wintering or summering in marinas?
Snowbird strategies
- Thread starter Raleigh500
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Marinas
The biggest problem I hear is marinas that no longer permit liveaboards in their facilities...or put limits on them such as two weeks.
The biggest problem I hear is marinas that no longer permit liveaboards in their facilities...or put limits on them such as two weeks.
and the hook is less of an option...
most Florida areas now restrict the time allowed at anchor. Unless you own a slip down there, it's becoming harder and harder it seems.
most Florida areas now restrict the time allowed at anchor. Unless you own a slip down there, it's becoming harder and harder it seems.
moorings
At the very least, anyone planning to live aboard their boat and move it north and south with the seasons would need to be able to find a stable mooring location near a marina. Moving all the time would be a vagrant lifestyle, and wouldn't work for most people.
At the very least, anyone planning to live aboard their boat and move it north and south with the seasons would need to be able to find a stable mooring location near a marina. Moving all the time would be a vagrant lifestyle, and wouldn't work for most people.
Theirs a ton of liveaboard marinas
If your considering YEAR-ROUND in Florida then finding a liveaboard marina is not a problem. Its takes some searching and contacts, but they are plentiful and kind to liveaboards. The seasonal flip flop from north to south is very unique, but, here is one suggestion; if your willing to pay in advance for say, six months of wintering in Florida at a marina, its possible that you can negotiate with the marina on leasing that dock space for half the year. The only caution may be that the space they give you when you arrive could be way out and exposed to more severe wakes, wind and one heck of along walk to the parking lot! Make sure you know where they would place you first. In the interim it would be best to grab a Florida waterway guide with marina listings and explore the possibilities. By the way, northern Florida has always been a summer tourist destination (Fernandino Beach, Jacksonville, St. Augustine to Daytona), and winters can get a bit chilly, but far warmer then the northland. These are the areas I would consider first for wintering as costs may be more reasonable in that region. After all, everyone wants to head to Miami and the Keyes that time of year. All you need is your car delivered and your riding high! My last option would be to live off the hook for the season, but if you must, check out St. Augustine. I hope it works out for you. Bob
If your considering YEAR-ROUND in Florida then finding a liveaboard marina is not a problem. Its takes some searching and contacts, but they are plentiful and kind to liveaboards. The seasonal flip flop from north to south is very unique, but, here is one suggestion; if your willing to pay in advance for say, six months of wintering in Florida at a marina, its possible that you can negotiate with the marina on leasing that dock space for half the year. The only caution may be that the space they give you when you arrive could be way out and exposed to more severe wakes, wind and one heck of along walk to the parking lot! Make sure you know where they would place you first. In the interim it would be best to grab a Florida waterway guide with marina listings and explore the possibilities. By the way, northern Florida has always been a summer tourist destination (Fernandino Beach, Jacksonville, St. Augustine to Daytona), and winters can get a bit chilly, but far warmer then the northland. These are the areas I would consider first for wintering as costs may be more reasonable in that region. After all, everyone wants to head to Miami and the Keyes that time of year. All you need is your car delivered and your riding high! My last option would be to live off the hook for the season, but if you must, check out St. Augustine. I hope it works out for you. Bob
A ton of marinas, where?
Bob, I hate to argue but I simply can't agree. I also can only speak about the south and sw coast of Florida. Live aboard marinas are dying fast, the condo-commando's are raping our coast and the first casualties are the marinas. From my view as a life long resident, the snow bird life style is dying along with the marinas in most of our state, especially south florida. If you decide to anchor out than the next questions are where to park your car and put in with your dink. I'll admit I'm not much of a snow bird fan but I much prefer your life style to the hideous condo's that are popping up around every corner.
Bob, I hate to argue but I simply can't agree. I also can only speak about the south and sw coast of Florida. Live aboard marinas are dying fast, the condo-commando's are raping our coast and the first casualties are the marinas. From my view as a life long resident, the snow bird life style is dying along with the marinas in most of our state, especially south florida. If you decide to anchor out than the next questions are where to park your car and put in with your dink. I'll admit I'm not much of a snow bird fan but I much prefer your life style to the hideous condo's that are popping up around every corner.
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